Department  of  Agriculture  Bufletin 

PubUshed  monthly  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  of  the  State  of  New  York 
Entered  as  second-clasa  matter  March  a,  igii.  at  the  post  office  at  Albany.  N.  Y 

under  the  Act  of  June  6, 1900  " '  "        ' 


^°^^^'  ^-  Y- OCTOBER,  ,9,5 


Bufletin  76 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


Istued  by  the  Bofcati  of  Farmefs*  Institutes  and  Compiled  under  the 
Supervision  of  the  Director 


JOHNA.SEAVERNS 


TUFTS  UNIVERSITY   LIBRARIES 


3 9090 013 400   938         l    ^';6^V^ 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  ^'^^,. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

CHARLES  S.  WILSON,  Commissioner 


Bulletin  76 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York 

State 


Issued  fay  the  Bureau  of  Farmers*  Institutes  and  Compiled  under  the 

Supervision  of^e^D^ctcp^^.j^  ^.^^^^  ^^  ^^^^.^^^  ^^ 

Cummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medici 
Tufts  University 


a 


»^ 


ti".'^, 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Introduction 9 

Evolution  and  History  of  the  Horse,  M.  W.  Harper 11 

Principles  of  Horse  Breeding,  M.  W.  Harper 14 

The  Standardbred  Horse,  Carl  W.  Gay 20 

The  Arab  Horse,  H.  K.   Bush-Brown 27 

The  Thoroughbred,  Lieut.  X.  C.  Shiverick 37 

The  American  Saddle  Horse,  Elise  Castleman  Railey 47 

The  Hunter,  Frank  S.  Peer 57 

The  Shetland  Pony,  Julia  M.  Wade 67 

The  Welsh  Pony,  Julia  ]il.  Wade 68 

The  Draft  Breeds  of  France,  E.  S.  Akin 71 

The  Belgian,  E.   S.  Akin 82 

The  Draft  Breeds  of  Great  Britain,  E.  S.  Akin 91 

Hackney  Breeding  in  America,   Reginald  C.  ^'anderbilt 104 

Coach   Horses,    DeVoe   Meade 110 

Asses  and  Mules,  Dr.  C.  W.  Brodhead 119 

The  Horse  on  New  York  State  Farms,  Dr.  ]\I.  Hamilton 129 

The  Best  Horse  for  the  Farmer  to  Breed,  J.  H.  S.  Johnstone 134 

Care  of  the  Stallion,  J.  Gelder 141 

Care  of  the  Brood  ilare  and  Her  Colt,  Lowell  Roudebush 148 

Fall  Versus  Spring  Colts,  Edward  van  Alstyne 155 

Training  the  Colt,  H.  E.  Hopkins 161 

The  Horses'  Feet  and  Their  Care,  Dr.  C.  W.  Brodhead 167 

Care  of  Horses'  Teeth,  Dr.  C.  W.  Brodhead 183 

Feed  and  Care  of  the  Horse,  F.  C.  Minkler 187 

Horses  at  the  New  York  State  Fair,  Dr.  H.  S.  Wende 193 

The  Need  of  a  Stallion  Law,  Dr.  W.  G.  Hollingworth 207 

Effects  of  the  Wisconsin  Stallion  Law,  Dr.  A.  S.  Alexander 213 

Stallion   Enrollment  Law,  E.   S.  Akin 215 

Community  Effort  in  Draft  Horse  Breeding,  J.  L.  Edmonds 216 

Horse  Breeding  in  the  West  and  East,  Forest  Henry 221 

Glanders  or  Farcy,  Dr.  Charles  Linch 225 

Diseases  of  the  Limbs  and  Bony  Structure,  Dr.  J.  F.  DeVine 234 

Distemper  and  Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs,  Dr.  E.  L.  Volgenau..   241 

Colic  and  Azaturea,  Dr.  M.  Hamilton 251 

Horse  Companionship.  Frank   S.   Peer 263 

New  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders  Club 268 

Statistics 269 

Index 271 

[3] 


ILLUSTRATIOJSrS 


PAGE 
Fig.     1.  Seven-eighths   Pereheron    Colts   Bred   on    Farm    of    Edward   van 

Alstyne 8 

Fig.     2.  Green   Mountain    INIaid    in    1S73 20 

Fig.     3.  Inscription  on  ]\Ionvmient  to  Green  Mountain  Maid 22 

Fig.     4.  Hambletonian    10  at   Twenty-three  Years  of  Age 23 

Fig.     5.  ilonument  Over   Grave   of   Hambletonian    10 24 

Fig.     6.  Imported   Arab   Horse,   Houran 28 

Fig.     7.  Three-Year-Old,    Cibolo     29 

Fig.     8.  Cross  Between  Kentucky  Saddle  Sire  and  Pure-Bred  Arab  Dam .  .  31 

Fig.     9.  Daughter  of  Deyr 33 

Fig.  10.  Abdalla    Xo.    52 35 

Fig.  11.  A  Good  Pair  of'  TTioroughbred  Drivers 38 

Fig.  12.  Prize-Winning  Two-Year-Old   40 

Fig.   13.  Thoroughljred  Shown  at  State  Fair 43 

Fig.  14.  Golden    Flight     46 

Fig.  15.  Dainty   Peanine   by   Cilolden   King 48 

Fig.  16.  Carolina  by  Chester  Dare 50 

Fig.   17.  Beechwold  Bab  by  a  Son  of  Highland  Denmark 52 

Fig.   18.  Quicksilver  by  Boyd  Lynn 53 

Fig.  19.  Geneva  C.  by  Highland  Denmark 54 

Fig.  20.  Eeady  for  a  Cross-Country  Run 59 

Fig.  21.  Typical  Farmyard  and  Old  Stone  Barn  of  a  Pereheron  Breeder.  .  70 

Fig.  22.  Prize  Collection  of  iirdennais  Mares 72 

Fig.  23.  Prize  Collection  of  Pereheron  Mares 74 

Fig.  24.  Pereheron   Stallion,   Kalot 76 

Pig.  2.3.  Pereheron  Stallions  in  the  Great  Four-Year-Okl  Class 77 

Fig.  26.  Pereheron    Stallion,    Mandarin 78 

Fig.  27.  Pereheron    Mare,    Livourne 80 

Fig.  28.  Belgian  Stallions  in  the  Four-Year-Old  Class 83 

Fig.   20.  Indigene  du   Fosteau,   One  of  the   Greatest   of   Modern   Belgian 

Sires  .   .    ■  • 84 

Fig.  30.  A  Bunch  of  Belgian   Stallion  Colts 86 

Fig.  31.  Belgian  Stallions  in  the  Five-Year-Old  Class 87 

Fig.  32.  Reve  d'Or,  Noted  Belgian  Stallion 88 

Fig.  33.  Seventeen  Entries  of  Four  Mares  Each 89 

Fig.  34.  Typical  Country  in  Suflfolk.  England 92 

Fig.  35.  Suffolk   Stallion.   Sudbourne   Red   Cup 94 

Fig.  36.  SuflTolk   Mare.   Sudbourne   Marrilass 95 

Pig.  37.  Clydesdale    Stallion,    Ciaibstone 97 

Pig.  38.  Clydesdale  Mare.  Havistoun  Baroness 98 

Pig.  39.  Shire    Stallion.    Chuldwick 100 

Fig.  40.  Shire  Mare,   Dunsmore   Chemie 102 

[5] 


6  ILLUSTKATIONS 

PAGE 

Fig.  41   llackncy  Stallion,  Irvington   Marlboro 105 

Fig.  42.  Silficld  Vi-niis,  Hackney  Marc,  and  Four  of  Her  Colts 106 

Fig.  43.  Hackney   Colts   in    Pasture 107 

Fig.  44.  Stallion  at  Mr.  DriscolTs  Farm 108 

Fig.  45.  Hackney  Stallion,  Volunteer   Ill 

Fig.  4().  French  Coach  Stallion,  Palladea    113 

Fig.  47.  German  Coach  Mare,  Alemania 115 

Fig.  48.  Cleveland  Bay  Stallion,  Bedlion  Fred 117 

Fig.  49.  Fine  Poitou  Jack 12(i 

Fig.  50.  A  Good  Farm  Team  of  Mules 122 

Fig.  51.  The  Same  Pair  as  Shown  in  Fig.  50,  Ready  for  a  Drive  to  Town.  124 

Fig.  52.  Type  of  Mules  I'sed  by  the  Oil  Companies  for  Heavy  Loads.  .  .  .  127 

Fig.  53.  Typical   Farm   Chunk    138 

Fig.  54.  Desirable  Type  of   Stallion 142 

Fig.  55.  Stallion  Marat,  Doing  the  Work  of  Two  Small  Horses 144 

Fig.  56.  Grade  Draft  Mares  Twelve  Years  Old  in  Foal  and  With  Foal.  .  .  150 

Fig.  57.  Grade  Draft  Mare  Nine  Years  Old  and  Mule  Colt 152 

Fig.  58.  Using  the  Brood  Mare  in  Cutting  Alfalfa 154 

Fig.  59.  Seven-eighths  Percheron  Colt 158 

Fig.  60.  Three-quarter  Blood  Percheron  Mares  on  Farm  of  Edward  van 

Alstyne 159 

Fig.  61.  Bones  and  Joints  of  the  Horse's  Hoof  and  Leg 170 

Fig.  62.  Shoes  Hand  Made  for  Pathological  and  Practical  Purposes 176 

Fig.  63.  Shoes  Hand  Made,  etc.,    (continued) 178 

Fig.  64.  Head  of  Horse  Showing  Jaws  and  Teeth 184 

Fig.  65.  Group  of  Young  Belgian  Stallions  at  State  Fair 194 

Fig.  66.  Prize-Winning    Percheron    Stallion 195 

Fig.  67.  Grade  Champion  Belgian  Stallion,  Richelieu 196 

Fig.  68.  Six-Horse  Team  Exhibited  at  State  Fair 198 

Fig.  69.  Perfection,  Winner  of  Silver  Cup  at  State  Fair,  1914 199 

Fig.  70.  Two-Year-Old  Percheron  Stallion,  Armand 200 

Fig.  71.  Two-Year-Old  Percheron  Stallion,  Invocation 201 

Fig.  72.  Yearling   Belgian    Stallion   by   Richelieu 202 

Fig.  73.  Judges  at  New  York  State  Fair 205 

Fig.  74.  Percheron  Mare  and  Foal.     A  Good  Type  for  Community  Breed- 
ing    218 

Fig.  75.  Bacillus  Mallei   225 

Fig.   76.   Glanders  Ulcers  or  Farcy  Buds 226 

Fig.  77.  Glanders  Ulcers  of  the  Nasal  Septum .- 227 

Fig.  78.  Cross  Section  of  Lungs  Showing  Glanders  Nodules 228 

Fig.  79.  Showing  Results  of  Tests  for  Glanders 231 

Fig.  80.  A  Neglected  Case  of  Lymphangitis 239 


THE  HORSE 
Braced  in  the  sineiry  vigor  of  ihtj  hrced. 
In  pride  of  generous  strength,   thou  stately  steed; 
Thy  hroad  chest  to  the  battle's  front  is  given, 
Thy  mane  fair  floating  to   the   winds  of  heaven, 
Thy  stamping  hoofs  the  jlinty  pebbles  break; 
Graceful   the  rising  of  thine  arched  neck. 
Thy  bridle-bits  white  flakes  of  foam  unlock; 
From  thy  moved  nostrils  bursts  the  curling  smoke. 
Thy  kindling  eye-balls  bi-ave  the  glaring  south, 
And  dreadful  is  the  thunder  of  thy  mouth; 
V.liilst  low  to  earth  thy  curving  haunches  bend, 
Thy  sweepy  tail  involved  in  clouds  of  sand. 
Erect  in  air  thou  rear'st  thy  front  of  pride, 
And  ringst  the  plated  harness  at  thy  side! 

JOAXNA    BAILLIE. 


J*       *!. 


^». 


^^^ 


INTRODUCTION 

"A  horse!  a  horse!  my  kingdom  for  a  horse!  "  are  the  words 
Shakespeare  put  in  the  month  of  the  defeated  Richard.  This 
has  been  the  sentiment,  if  not  the  exact  words,  of  many  a  better 
man  before  and  since.  We  believe  the  Psalmist  was  in  error 
when  he  said,  "A  horse  is  a  vain  thing  for  safety,  and  neither 
shall  he  deliver  any  by  his  great  strength."  Both  assertions  have 
been  disproved  again  and  again. 

Down  through  the  ages  the  horse  has  been  associated  with  man 
in  his  savage  or  semi-savage  state,  as  well  as  in  his  most  civilized. 
He  has  played  a  most  important  part  as  a  means  of  transportation, 
an  engine  of  war,  and  as  a  beast  of  burden.  In  all  of  these  there 
has  been  interwoven  with  the  intensely  practical,  a  touch  of  the 
romantic  that  has  set  the  horse  upon  a  pinnacle  among  our  do- 
mestic animals.  Were  we  to  give  our  fancy  and  pen  free  rein 
we  might  discourse  at  length  of  his  associations  with  man  in  some 
of  the  most  important  events  in  the  world's  history.  Who  can 
think  of  Xapoleon  in  war  apart  from  his  milk-w4iite  charger, 
Rams ;  or  disassociate  Paul  Revere,  on  his  historic  ride,  from  his 
steed 

'^ — Flying  fearless  and  fleet 

And  the  spark  struck  out  from  the  steed  in  its  flight 

Kindled  the  land  with  flame  with  its  heat." 

Or,  what  thought  of  Marcus  Whitman  on  his  pilgrimage  across 
the  continent  to  inform  the  American  Congress  of  the  value  of 
the  Oregon  country,  does  not  l:ear  with  it  the  horse  that  carried 
him  over  mountains  and  through  deserts? 

Time  and  space  would  not  avail  to  tell  of  McCormack  riding 
on  horseback  from  Chicag£>  to  Palmyra,  IST.  Y.,  seeking  aid  to 
finance  his  proposed  reaper;  of  Sheridan  at  Winchester;  as  well  as 
a  host  of  other  instances  where  man's  best  efforts,  without  the  aid 
of  the  horse,  would  be  as  water  spilled  upon  the  groimd. 

Among  the  kingdoms  in  which  the  horse  has  been  a  most  im- 
portant subject,  we  must  not  forget  the  farm.     Here,  as  time  and 

[01 


10  Introduction 

labor  grew  more  valuable,  he  supplanted  the  patient  ox,  and  made 
possible  the  "  winning  of  the  West,"  before  steam  and  elec- 
tricity —  neither  of  which  have  or  will  altogether  supplant  this 
valuable  animal  —  were  harnessed  for  farm  purposes. 

As  indicated  above,  the  part  he  has  played  would  well  entitle 
him  to  a  place  among  the  series  of  bulletins  being  issued  by  the 
Farmers'  Institute  Bureau  of  the  New  York  State  Department 
of  Agriculture  on  stock  and  crops.  Since  a  publication  of  this 
kind  must  deal  with  present-day  utilities,  we  feel  that  at  this 
time  in  our  agriculture  the  horse  should  loom  large,  because  of 
the  fearful  destruction  of  these  animals  on  the  battlefields  of 
Europe,  thousands  of  them  being  drawn  from  this  country.  The 
war  and  its  results  will  prevent  importation  for  years  to  come. 

That  the  horse  may  be  properly  esteemed,  classified  and  under- 
stood as  to  his  breeding,  handling  and  utility,  this  bulletin  has 
been  prepared.  We  have  endeavored  to  set  forth  the  above  con- 
cerning him  in  some  detail,  and  from  many  viewpoints ;  yet  in 
simple  language,  easily  to  be  understood.  While  designed 
primarily  for  the  people  of  our  own  state,  we  have  endeavored 
to  make  it  broad  enough  to  be  of  value  to  readers  everywhere.  To 
this  end  we  have  sought  contributions  from  a  wide  field ;  eight 
difterent  states  have  furnished  them.  As  in  previous  bulletins 
from  this  bureau  the  compiler  has  laid  tribute  on  some  of  his 
many  friends  both  in  and  out  of  the  state.  His  only  apology  for 
such  —  if  there  need  be  apology  - —  is  that  he  might  avail  himself 
of  their  knowledge  for  the  service  of  others.  To  all  such  he 
woaild  here  record  his  thanks  and  appreciation,  which  he  is  certain 
the  many  readers  will  second.  Particular  mention  should  be 
made  of  Prof.  M.  W.  Harper  of  Cornell  University  and  ]\Ir.  E. 
S.  Akin  of  Syracuse,  who  have  not  only  contributed  leading 
articles,  but  without  whose  advice  and  assistance  this  bulletin 
would  not  have  been  possible. 

It  is  sent  out  with  the  threefold  hope  that  it  may  lead  to  a 
better  appreciation  of  the  horse  in  New  York  state's  agi*i culture ; 
a  better  understanding  of  his  requirements,  and  hence  a  better 
attention  to  his  needs ;  and  withal  an  increased  income  and  a 
decreased  outlay  from  our  farms. 

Edward  van  Alstyne. 


EVOLUTION   AND   HISTORY   OF  THE   HORSE 
M.  W.  Hakper 

Professor  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Cornell  University,  Ithaca. 

The  earlj  history  of  the  horse  is 
both  interesting  and  instrnetive.  It 
is  interesting  because  of  the  marked 
changes  that  have  taken  place  in 
size  and  conformation.  It  is  instruc- 
tive because  it  attbrds  a  good  example 
of  the  adaptation  of  a  race  of  animals 
to  their  environment.  It  shows  clearly 
the  influence  of  selection,  whether  it  be 
i:atnral  or  artificial. 

PREHISTORIC    DEVELOPMENT 

By  means  of  fossil  remains,  the  earlier  history  of  the  horse  has 
been  worked  out  farther  back  into  the  past  than  that  of  any  other 
farm  animal.  Moreover,  the  horse  was  one  of  the  first  animals 
to  receive  the  attention  of  progressive  breeders,  his  improvement 
antedating  that  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine.  This  is  not  strange 
when  we  consider  the  intimacy  of  horse  and  man,  their  constant 
companionship,  and  the  dependency  of  man  upon  his  horse  in  the 
chase,  in  the  pursuit  of  his  foes,  and  in  escape  from  his  enemies. 

The  prehistoric  development  of  the  horse  has  been  thoroughly 
investigated  by  the  American  Museum  of  Xatural  History.  The 
horse  family  has  been  traced  back  without  a  single  important 
break  to  the  Eocene  epoch  of  the  Tertiary  period.  During  this 
long  period,  estimated  at  3,000,000  years,  the  animals  of  the  horse 
family  have  passed  through  important  changes  in  all  parts  of  the 
body,  especially  in  the  feet  and  teeth,  adapting  them  more  per- 
fectly to  their  environment.  Thus  the  earliest  known  ancestors 
of  the  horse  family  differed  widely  from  the  horse  of  the  pre-^ent 
time.  These  ancestors  were  very  small,  possibly  no  larger  than 
the  domestic  cat.  They  possessed  four  complete  toes  on  each 
front  foot  and  three  on  each  hind  foot.     The  teeth  of  this  early 

[111 


12  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

ancestor  were  short-crowned  and  covered  with  low  ronnded  cnsps 
of  enamel  somewhat  similar  to  those  of  swine,  and  differing  widely 
from  the  long-crowned,  rather  complicated  molars  of  the  modern 
horse. 

A  nnmber  of  stages  are  recognized  in  the  evolution  of  the  horse 
from  this  early  period  to  the  present,  each  stage  being  character- 
istic with  the  horse  becoming  more  and  more  developed  toward 
the  present-day  type  as  the  times  become  more  and  more  recent. 
Some  of  these  stages  are  especially  interesting  because  of  the 
changes  brought  about  by  the  changes  in  natural  conditions,  show- 
ing the  adaptation  of  the  animal  to  his  environment. 

Thus  with  the  disappearance  of  the  side  toes  there  was  a  con- 
siderable increase  in  the  length  of  the  legs,  especially  the  lower 
part.  The  increased  length  of  the  lower  leg  increased  the  length 
of  the  stride  without  decreasing  its  quickness,  thus  giving  the  ani- 
mal greater  speed.  The  heavy  muscling  in  the'  upper'  leg  in  con- 
nection with  the  increased  strength  at  the  joints  gives  the  animal 
greater  strength. 

The  increase  in  the  lengih  of  limb  made  necessary  a  similar 
increase  in  the  length  of  head  and  neck  in  order  to  enable  the 
animal  to  reach  the  ground  when  grazing.  The  increase  in  the 
length  of  crown  development  of  the  teeth  enabled  the  animal  to 
subsist  on  the  hard  grasses  of  the  dry  plains,  which  required  much 
more  thorough  mastication  before  they  could  be  used  as  food  than 
did  the  softer  green  foods  of  the  swamps  and  forests,  the  horse's 
early  habitat. 

Such  changes  in  the  evolution  of  the  horse  adapt  him  to  live 
in  the  regions  of  level,  smooth,  and  open  grassy  plains.  In  the 
beginning  the  horse  was  better  fitted  for  forest  life,  but  it  has 
become  more  and  more  completely  adapted  to  live  and  compete 
with  its  enemies  or  rivals  under  the  conditions  which  prevail  on 
the  high  dry  plains.  The  increase  in  size  which  has  occurred 
during  this  evolution  has  depended  upon  the  ability  of  the  animal 
to  secure  an  abundance  of  food.  This  end  was  provided  with  the 
changes  in  form  which  enabled  the  horse  to  cover  larger  areas 
in  a  shorter  length  of  time. 


Evolution  and  History  of  the  Hokse  13 

natural  causes  of  evolution 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  probably  natural  cause  of  the  evolu- 
tion of  the  horse.  During  the  early  Tertiary  period  much  of  the 
western  part  of  the  Xorth  American  continent  was  not  as  high 
above  the  sea  as  now.  Indeed,  much  of  the  country  had  but  re- 
cently emerged  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  which  stretched  far  up 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  climate  was  probably  very  moist  and 
warm  and  tropical,  as  is  emphasized  by  tropical  forest  trees  found 
fossil  often  as  far  as  Greenland.  Such  a  climate,  with  a  low  eleva- 
tion of  land,  would  favor  the  gTowth  of  dense  forests,  and  to. such 
conditions  of  life  the  animals  of  the  beginning  of  the  mammalian 
period  must  have  been  adapted. 

During  the  Tertiary  period  the  continent  was  steadily  rising 
above  the  sea  level.  At  the  same  time  other  influences  were  at 
work  rendering  the  climate  continually  colder  and  drier.  The 
coming  of  a  cold,  dry  climate  thinned  and  restricted  the  forests 
and  in  their  place  appeared  the  open  grassy  plains.  The  early 
forest  inhabitants  were  forced  to  either  retreat  and  disappear 
with  the  forests  or  adapt  themselves  to  life  on  the  plains.  Most 
of  the  horse's  early  relatives  followed  the  former  course  and  dis- 
appeared, while  the  horse  himself  followed  the  latter  course, 
changed  with  the  changing  conditions,  and  the  race  became  as  it 
is  today,  perhaps  the  most  specialized  of  animals  in  its  adaptation 
to  its  environment. 


PRINCIPLES  OF  HORSE  BREEDING 

M.  W.  Harpei? 
Professor  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Cornell  University,  Ithaca. 

The  development  of  the  modern  breeds  of  the  horse  dates  back 
abont  three  centuries  when  the  English  began  to  improve  their 
horses,  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  present  thorough- 
bred breed  of  running  horses.  Most  of  the  early  attempts  at 
improvement  were  for  an  increase  in  efficiency  of  the  horse  for 
sport  and  war.  During  the  eighteenth  century,  however,  much 
attention  was  given  to  horse  breeding  for  economic  purposes. 

To  Robert  Bakewell  we  owe  much  for  this  movement.  About 
1Y60,  Bakewell  assumed  the  management  of  the  estate  on  which 
his  father  and  grandfather  had  resided  at  Leicestershire,  Eng- 
land. Young  Bakewell  conceived  the  idea  that  he  had  only  to 
select  the  most  valuable  strains,  such  as  promised  the  greatest 
returns  to  the  breeder,  and  that  he  should  then,  by  careful  atten- 
tion to  progTessive  improvement,  be  able  to  produce  a  breed 
from  which  he  could  derive  maximum  advantage.  Bakewell 
recognized  two  cardinal  principles  of  animal  improvement :  first, 
that  similar  produces  similar,  and  second,  that  form  bears  close 
relationship  to  function.  Based  upon  these  principles,  he  origi- 
nated a  system,  the  application  of  which  has  resulted  in  our 
specialized  breeds  of  horses. 

SELECTION 

In  the  improvement  of  our  horses,  selection  plays  an  all-im- 
portant part,  since  it  enables  us  to  encourage  the  production  of 
those  horses  that  meet  the  demand,  and  to  prevent,  in  part  at 
least,  the  production  of  undesirable  animals.  Thus  in  selecting 
horses  for  breeding  purposes  there  are  four  important  factors 
to  be  considered :  first,  individual  merit  or  the  perfection  of  the 
animal  as  a  representative  of  its  race,  type,  or  breed ;  second, 
the  pedigree  or  purity  of  ancestry,  and  the  probable  capacity 
of  the  individual  to  reproduce  itself  or  show  improvement ;  third, 
the  suitability  of  the  two  animals  to  be  mated ;  and  fourth,  breed- 
ing performance  when  offspring  are  available  for  observation, 

(14] 


Principles  of  Hokse  Breeding  15 

individuality 

In  selecting  breeding  horses  the  perfection  of  the  animals 
should  be  carefully  considered.  Occasionally  we  give  too  little 
attention  to  this  and  select  an  animal  on  the  basis  of  his  pedigree. 
Such  practice  often  proves  disappointing  as  many  inferior  indi- 
viduals are  recorded  simply  because  such  animals  command  a 
good  price  on  the  market. 

PEDIGREE 

In  choosing  horses  for  breeding  purposes  the  purity  of  ancestry 
is  an  important  factor,  since  the  capacity  of  a  horse  to  produce 
superior  offspring  will  depend  largely  upon  his  ancestry.  Thus, 
there  are  four  possible  conditions  that  should  always  be  borne 
in  mind :  first,  the  offspring  of  a  superior  individual  with  a  good 
pedigree  is  likely  to  possess  merit ;  second,  the  offspring  of  an 
inferior  individual  with  a  good  pedigree  may  possess  merit ;  third, 
the  offspring  of  a  superior  individual  with  a  poor  pedigree  is 
likely  to  be  inferior  in  merit ;  and  fourth,  in  all  probability  the 
offspring  of  an  inferior  individual  with  a  poor  pedigree  will  be 
distinctly  inferior. 

MATING 

To  be  suitable  for  mating,  the  horses  should  be  as  nearly  alike 
in  general  characters  as  it  is  possible  to  select,  otherwise  the  out- 
come cannot  be  foretold.  When  thx?  offspring  shows  good  quali- 
ties the  mating  is  considered  a  fortunate  nick;  when  there  is  no 
resemblance  to  either  parent,  but  to  some  near  ancestor,  it  is 
called  atavism;  and  if  to  some  far  removed  ancestor,  it  is  called 
reversion.  Some  persons  are  very  skilled  in  selecting  animals 
that  mate  to  advantage, 

BREEDING  PERFORMANCE 

In  selecting  mares  or  stallions  for  breeding  purposes  we  can 
obtain  a  very  good  idea  of  the  suitability  of  the  animals  by  an 
examination  of  the  offspring,  if  such  are  available.  Thus  in 
choosing  a  stallion,  a  careful  examination  should  be  made  of  his 
get,  and,  if  they  are  deficient  or  otherwise  unfit,  he  should  be 
rejected.      The  same  procedure  should  be  followed  in  selecting 


16  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

a  mare.  This  practice  may  necessitate  choosing  an  animal  of 
some  age,  bnt  it  is  preferable,  as  we  know  for  a  certainty  what 
to  expect  of  the  offspring. 

PREPOTENCY 

There  is  a  wide  variation  among  horses  in  their  power  to  stamp 
their  characteristics  upon  offspring.  When  the  offspring  resem- 
bles one  parent  more  than  the  other,  the  one  transmitting  it  is 
said  to  be  prepotent  over  the  other  parent.  Thus  prepotency 
becomes  of  importance  in  improvement,  and  tlie  inflnences  that 
tend  to  produce  it  in  the  individual  are  worthy  of  careful  con- 
sideration. While  many  of  the  factors  that  influence  prepotency 
are  little  understood,  tliose  that  do  aid  and  are  under  the  control 
of  man  are:  first,  purity  of  breeding  which  favors  stability; 
second,  strong  constitutional  development  which  strengthens  the 
characters;  and  third,  limited  inbreeding  which  aids  prepotency 
as  it  streng-thens  dominant  characters,  both  good  and  bad. 

In  breeding  horses  the  prepotency  of  the  stallion  is  given  more 
consideration  than  that  of  the  mare.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
the  sire  is  the  parent  of  more  individuals  than  the  dam,  and  not 
to  individual  resemblance.  This  is  fortunate,  as  improvement 
can  be  more  cheaply  secured  through  a  good  sire  from  the  mere 
fact  that  he  is  represented  in  more  progeny.  Furthermore,  since 
comparatively  few  males  are  needed  for  breeding  purposes,  they 
are  usually  much  more  carefully  selected  than  are  the  females, 
practically  all  of  which  are  bred.  This  also  favors  the  prepotency 
of  the  stallion. 

STERILITY 

Perhaps  the  horse  breeder's  greatest  difficulty  is  the  failure 
of  his  animals  to  breed  freely.  The  causes  which  lead  to  sterility 
are  many,  some  of  which  are  understood  and  are  more  ot  less  under 
control ;  others  —  and  by  far  the  larger  and  more  serious  number 
—  are  little  known  and  beyond  control.  Some  of  the  known  and 
preventable  causes  of  sterility  are:  first,  confinement  and  lack  of 
exercise ;  second,  irregular  food  supply ;  third,  food  lacking  proper 
nutrients;  fourth,  animals  too  fat;  fifth,  close  inbreeding;  sixth, 
excessive  breeding,  particularly  with  the  stallion ;  and  like 
causes.     To  lessen  sterility,  the  breeder  should  make  a  careful 


Peixciples  of  Horse  Breeding  17 

study  of  the  conditions  likely  to  produce  the  ailment,  and  care- 
fully avoid  them. 

SOUNDNESS 

Both  sire  and  dam  should  be  free  from  all  forms  of  unsound- 
ness and  disease  that  is  hereditary,  transmittable,  or  communi- 
cable to  the  oifspring.  AVhile  absolutely  perfect  animals  can 
rarely,  if  ever,  be  found,  and  few  horse  breeders  can  afford  to 
reject  breeding  stock  for  some  unimportant  defect ;  yet,  not  until 
both  mare  and  stallion  are  free  from  unsoundness  can  we  hope  to 
raise  the  excellency  of  our  horses  to  the  degree  possible  as  the 
result  of  intelligent  breeding.  Many  persons  have  fallen  into  the 
grievous  way  of  considering  any  broken-down,  halt,  maimed, 
blind,  or  otherwise  unsound  mare  tit  for  breeding  purposes  when 
no  longer  able  to  work.  It  is  certainly  poor  policy  to  knowingly 
use  unsound  breeding  animals  and  thus  promote  unsoundness  in 
the  offspring. 

BREEDING   YOUNG   FILLIES 

Among  horse  breeders  there  is  much  difference  of  opinion  as 
to  the  advisability  of  breeding  the  two-year-old  tilly.  It  would 
seem  that  this  practice  would  depend  upon  at  least  three  factors, 
namely,  the  breed,  the  individual,  and  the  object  sought.  As  a 
rule  draft-bred  mares  mature  younger  than  those  of  the  lighter 
type.  Draft  fillies  at  two  years  of  age  are  often  as  mature  as 
a  light-bred  filly  at  three  years  of  age.  Individual  mares  differ 
in  the  way  they  mature ;  a  smoothly  turned,  neat  and  well-fin- 
ished one  matures  much  younger  than  a  rough,  coarse  and  growthy 
individual. 

Since  the  feed  and  care  influence  the  maturing,  the  filly  that 
is  kept  growing  continuously  from  birth  will  mature  earlier  than 
one  imperfectly  cared  for  and  which  receives  a  set-back  each 
winter. 

FinaDy,  if  breeding  pure-bred  animals  and  the  object  sought 
is  to  improve  the  strain,  the  advisability  of  breeding  the  two-year- 
old  filly  would  be  questionable.  From  this  it  would  seem  that  if 
one  desires  to  produce  draft  horses  for  market,  there  is  no  reason 
why  fillies  cannot  be  bred  at  two  years  of  age  if  they  are  well 
grown  and  mature,  and  the  owner  is  willing  to  feed  and  care  for 
them  properly  during  their  pregnancy. 


18  The  House  Industky  in  New  York  State 

Possibly  one  reason  for  so  much  discussion  as  to  the  wisdom 
of  breeding  a  mare  at  two  years  of  age  is  from  the  fact  that  a 
filly  at  this  age  breeds  with  much  irregularity.  From  experience 
it  seems  that  only  about  one  filly  in  four  will  conceive  at  so  early 
an  age. 

THE   PREGNANT   MxVRE 

The  management  of  the  pregnant  mare  should  have  for  its 
object  the  feeding  of  such  a  ration  as  will  supply  her  demands 
for  energy,  and  in  addition  allow  ample  nourishment  for  the 
development  of  the  foal  both  before  and  for  a  short  time  after 
birth,  together  with  such  a  regulation  of  the  work  as  will  protect 
the  mare  from  becoming  stagnant,  tired  or  injured  in  any  way. 
The  breeder  who  is  painstaking  and  can  accomplish  this,  will 
experience  little  or  no  difficulty  in  managing  brood  mares  during 
and  after  parturition.  There  is  no  secret  in  raising  colts  further 
than  the  feeding  of  a  moderate  amount  of  nutritious  food  and 
providing  sufficient  exercise  to  keep  the  mare  and  foal  in  per- 
fect health. 

In  our  attempt  to  favor  the  pregnant  mare  we  often  subject 
her  to  very  adverse  conditions.  Often  she  is  placed  in  a  stall, 
fed  most  nutritious  foods,  and  denied  exercise,  particularly  in 
winter,  as  w^e  are  afraid  she  will  slip  and  injure  herself  or  her 
foal.  Under  these  conditions  she  soon  stocks  up,  her  legs  become 
swollen  and  stiff,  she  takes  on  fat  rapidly,  and  becomes  soft  and 
flabby  —  all  of  which  serve  to  increase  the  difficulty  at  parturi- 
tion time.  It  is  much  better  to  keep  the  pregnant  mare  at 
moderate  work  even  up  to  the  day  of  foaling  as  this  will  provide 
the  needed  exercise  which  is  so  essential  to  the  well-being  of  both 
mare  and  foal. 

SPRING  FOALS 

Mares  breed  naturally  in  early  spring.  At  this  season  tlipir 
breeding  condition  is  more  readily  observed  and  they  conceive 
more  frequently  than  at  any  other  time  during  the  year.  While 
the  spring  of  the  year  is  the  natural  breeding  season,  on  many 
farms  it  is  an  inconvenient  time  because  of  the  season's  work, 
this  being  the  busiest  time  of  year.  This  often  necessitates  breed- 
ing the  mare  so  that  the  colt  will  be  dropped  in  the  fall. 


Principles  of  Horse  Breeding  19 

Thus,  when  convenient,  the  spring  is  the  proper  time  to  breed 
the  mare,  being  attended  by  many  advantages.  The  foal  comes 
at  a  time  when  it  is  much  more  easily  managed,  the  housing  is 
simplified,  since,  if  the  weather  is  warm,  the  mare  and  foal  may 
be  turned  into  a  small  paddock  or  pasture.  The  grass  the  mare 
gets  will  serve  to  keep  her  in  good  physical  condition  and  will 
stimulate  the  milk  flow.  This  also  gives  the  foal  the  range  of 
the  field  and  the  much-needed  exercise,  without  which  no  foal  can 
develop  endurance.  Soon  the  foal  will  learn  to  nibble  the  grass, 
which  will  prove  very  beneficial,  since  grass  is  a  very  good  supple- 
ment for  milk  for  a  nursing  foal.  If  the  foal  is  given  a  little 
grain  at  the  same  time  the  dam  receives  her  ration,  he  will  thrive 
and  develop  in  a  manner  difficult  to  equal  with  a  fall  colt. 

FALL   FOALS 

When  fall  foals  are  to  be  raised  the  mare  should  be  bred  so  as 
to  foal  as  soon  as  convenient  after  the  season's  work  is  done,  pro- 
viding the  foal  does  not  come  when  the  flies  are  so  cruelly  annoy- 
ing. To  encourage  the  mare  to  breed,  she  should  be  fed  an 
abundance  of  nutritious  food  which  should  be  of  a  rather  laxative 
nature.  She  should  be  blanketed  and  regularly  exercised  or  mod- 
erately worked.  Her  physical  condition  can  be  much  improved 
by  feeding  a  moderate  amount  of  succulent  food,  the  object  being 
to  make  the  conditions  as  spring-like  as  possible. 

If  the  foal  comes  in  the  winter  it  will  need  extra  warm 
quarters  and  extra  attention.  The  dam  will  need  milk-producing 
foods  such  as  clover  or  alfalfa  hay,  oats,  bran,  and  a  few  carrots 
if  possible.  She  should  be  exercised  regularly.  If  the  breeder 
has  a  succulent  food  such  as  carrots,  and  provides  sufficient  exer- 
cise for  mare  and  foal,  it  is  possible  to  raise  a  winter  colt  that 
will  be  a  stroug  rival  of  the  average  spring  colt.  The  winter 
colt  has  one  advantage  over  the  spring  colt  in  that  he  is  weaned 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  and  may  be  turned  to  pasture  where 
he  should  thrive,  particularly  if  given  a  small  allowance  of  grain. 


THE   STANDARDBRED   HORSE 

Carl  W.  Gay 
Professor  of  Animal  Industry,  University  of  Pennsylvania,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

The  Standardbred  has  a  peculiar  signifi- 
cance to  JSTew  York  State  farmers.  America 
has  produced  comparatively  few  breeds  of 
live  stock,  our  demands  in  milk,  meat  and 
power  being  met  bj  representatives  of 
foreign  breeds  that  have  been  transplanted. 
To  be  sure  some,  as  the  Holstein  cattle, 
may  be  so  successfully  bred  here  as  to  prac- 
tically render  importation  unnecessary. 
Our  supply  of  pork  products  is  derived 
chiefly  from  breeds  of  our  own  creation  and 
we  think  we  have  developed  a  saddle  horse  without  a  peer  in  his 
class,  but  the  only  American  breeds  which  have  attracted  marked 
attention  and  demand  abroad  are  Standardbred  horses  and  Merino 
sheep,  both  of  which  have  been  exported  in  large  numbers. 


Fig.  2.     Green  Mountain  Maid  in  1873 

(From  "  Productive  Horse  Hushandry ' '  —  Courtesy  of  J.  B.  Lippincott ,  Publishers) 

[20] 


The  Standardbked  Horse  21 

notable  centers  of  standard  breeding 

It  is  impossible  to  divorce  in  our  minds  Standardbred  and 
New  York  State.  Not  onlv  in  Orange  county  the  cradle  of  the 
breed,  figuratively  speaking,  but  the  very  sentiment  for  road 
driving  of  which  the  ''  light  harness  "  idea  was  born,  had  its 
inception  on  the  improved  roads  about  Xew-York  City.- 

That  ideals  are  essential  to  successful  breeding,  and  that  these 
ideals  are  most  cherished  where  greatest  Successes  have  been 
achieved,  is  made  plain  by  a  visit  to  that  part  of  New  York  State 
made  famous  by  Standardbred  ;history. .  Na,tin'ally  among  the 
older  pre-motor-day  generation  the  American  trotter  is  idealized. 
Goshen,  the  county  seat,  has  been  dubbed  "  The  Lexington  of  the 
Xorth  "  in  recognition  of  the  important  part  it  played  even  after 
the  formative  period  of  the  breed,  as  a  centre  of  light-harness- 
horse  activities.  Its^  historic  half  mile .  track  and  stables  where 
many  champions  have  been  trained  and  quartered,  as  well  as 
championship  honors  contested,  is  directly  across-  the  way  from  the 
Court  House,  and  apparently  has  been  an  institution  of  equal 
rank  in  the  aifairs  of  the  town.  The  streets  are  broad,  and  time 
was  when  a  lively  brush  straight  away  down  the  street  was  a  com- 
mon occurrence.  (Conversation  with  old-timers  elicits  inspiring 
accounts  of  this  horse  or  that,  his  achievement  and  a  character 
sketch  of  the  man  who  br-€^d.him.  About  the  countryside,  and  even 
in  the  towns,  are  monuments  in  granite  to  the  memory  of  the  most 
notable  horses.  Most  conspicuous  among-  these-  shafts;  are  those 
erected  to  Green  Mountain^  Maid  at  Stony  Ford  and  Hamble- 
tonian  10  at  Chester. 

More  local  color  is  added  to  the  picture  of  the  history  of  the 
Standardbred  by  the  part  played  by  the  old  race  tracks  on  Long 
Island  and  about  New  York  City.  The  initial  performance  of 
Lady  Suffolk,  Flora  Temple  and  Dexter,  as  well  as  many  lesser 
lights,  were  at  Beacon,  Union  and  Fashion  courses  respectively, 
while  one  of  the  first  trotting  matches  recorded  w^as  on  the 
Jamaica  Road  (Long  Island)  1824. 

From  southeastern  New  York,  as  the  original  center  in  which 
the  Standardbred  was  established  and  his  foundation  blood  lines 
laid  down,  the  sentiment  for  the  trotter,  and  consequently  some 
breeding  stock,  was  carried  to  Kentucky  and  especially  to  Cali- 
fornia.    Philadelphia  has  always  figured  more  or  less  intimately 


22 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


with  New  York.  During  a  half  century  or  less  Standardbred 
horses  have  become  most  generally  distributed  throughout  every 
state,  and  are  so  firmly  established  as  to  meet  the  strongest  oppo- 
sition from  promoters  of  other  breeds  for  which  it  is  desired  to 
gain  a  foothold. 


Fig.  3.  Inscription  on  Monument  to  Green  Mountain 
Maid  at  Stony  Ford — "Greatest  Mother  of  Trotters." 

(From  "  Productive  Horse  Husbandry" — Courtesy  of  J.  B.  Lippincott, 
Publishers.) 

standardbreds  entitled  to  a  place 
One  of  the  generally  accepted  policies  of  the  later-day  agri- 
cultural education  is  to  oppose  the  Standardbred.  He  is  tabooed 
for  the  farmer,  and  treated  with  the  utmost  contempt  by  many 
who  are  responsible  for  an  unprejudiced  exposition  of  the  merits 
and  claims  of  all  breeds  of  live  stock.  We  cannot  deny  some 
reason  for  this.  Probably  lower  net  profits  have  been  returned 
to  the  credit  of  the  farm  accounts  by  trotters  than  by  any  other 


The  Standardbked  Horse  23 

class  of  animals  produced  on  the  farm ;  yet  draft  horses  pay  well. 
However,  to  ignore  or  to  depise  the  Standardbred  is  to  deny  de- 
served recognition  to  the  horse  which  has,  at  least  until  we  have 
been  shown  a  better  way,  tilled  our  fields,  furnished  our  chief 
means  of  transportation,  mounted  our  troops,  and  been  the  central 
figure  in  one  of  our  most  popular  and  liberally  patronized  sports. 
And  there  are  yet  farmers  who  find  the  Standardbred  of  the  riglit 
type  to  be  of  greater  usefulness  to  them  than  horses  of  any  other 
type  or  breed. 

NOTABLE    STRAINS 

The  history  of  the  Standardbred  is  very  well  known  and  little 
need  be  said  of  it  here.     Every  Xew  York  farmer  knows  the 


Fig.  4.    Hambletoxiax  10  at  Twexty.-Three  Years  of  Age. 

(From  "  Productive  Horse  Husbandry"  — Courtesy  of  J.  B.  Lippincott,   Publishers.) 

Hambletonian,  the  Abdallahs,  the  Mambrinos,  the  Wilkes  and  a 
score  of  others.  However,  that  these  farmers  do  not  fully  under- 
stand how  the  fabric  of  the  breed  is  woven  in  these  lines  is  ex- 
posed in  their  frequent  reference  to  a  Wilkes  or  a  Hambletonian. 
There  was  a  time  when  to  be  a  Wilkes  or  Hambletonian  was  some 
distinction,  but  the  different  branches  of  the  family  tree  have 


24 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


begot  trotters. 


ramified  into  so  many  twigs  that  to  say  that  a  horse  is  Wilkes- 
bred  signifies  that  he  is  Standardbred  and  that  is  about;  all.  It 
may,  therefore,  be  worth  while  to  run  out  some  of  these  family 
lines. 

descendants  of  messenger 
So  far  as  the  Hambletonians,  the  Wilkes,  and  the  Mambrinos 
are  concerned  the  focal  point  is  found  in  Messenger  —  a  gray 
Thoroughbred  imported  from  England  in  1788.  While  he  was  a 
running  race  horse,  many  of  his  sons  and  grandsons  out  of  the 
common  trotting  road  mares  of  that  time,  became  trotters  and 
The  most  notable  of  all  sons  of  Messenger  was 

Mambrino,  at  whom  the 
family  tree  first  di- 
"v  i  d  e  s.  Mambrino, 
sired  both  Abdallah 
and  Mambrino  Pay- 
master. From  the 
former  comes  Hamble^ 
tonian  10  and  his  1287 
descendants ;  while 
Mambrino  Paymaster 
sired  Mambrino  (liief, 
a  cousin  of  Hambleton- 
ian  and  progenitor  of  a 
blood  line  known  col- 
lectively as  the  ]Vram- 
brinos,  which  nicked 
especially  well  with 
the  get  of  Hambleton- 
ian  himself. 

Of  the  nnmerons 
sons  of  Hambletonian 
fourteen  became  noted 
as  producing  .sires,  and 
George  Wilkes  was  the 

Fig.  5.    Monument  over  Grave  of  Hambletox-     jrreatest    of    them    all. 
IAN  10  AT  Chester,  N.  Y.  ^  . 

{From  "  Productive  Horse  Husbandry"  — Courtcsi,  „f  J.  B.  Lip-   ^^'^'^       again       the       trCG 
pincott,  Publishers.)  i  i  j  v  J* 

branches  and  subdi- 
vides through  the  sons  and  daughters  of  George  Wilkes  and 
their  succeeding  generations,  which  are  almost  legion.  The  pre- 
potency in  this  family  is  remarkable. 


The  Standakdbked  Hokse  25 

the  morgans 
Other  Standardbred  family  lines  not  akin  are  the  descendants 
of  Justin  Morgan  whose  best  blood  comes  down  through  Sher- 
man Morgan,  Black  Hawk,  Ethan  Allen,  and,  in  Daniel  Lam- 
Ijert,  is  engrafted  onto  the  Ilambletonian  stalk,  F'anny  Cook,  the 
dam  of  Daniel  Lambert  being  by  Abdallah  and  therefore  half 
sister  of  Ilambletonian.  The  more  light  there  is  thrown  on  the 
ancestry  of  the  early  Standardbreds  the  more  credit  attaches  to 
Justin  Morgan.  He  is  ranked  by  some  authorities  along  with 
^Messenger,  they  being  claimed  as  the  two  breed-foundation  sires. 

DESIRABLE    CHARACTERISTICS 

The  present  status  of  the  Standardbred  is  subject  to  some 
discussion.  While  he  is  primarily  a  light-harness  race  horse,  the 
percentage  of  those  bred  that  make  good  in  this  capacity  is  low, 
and  hardly  sufficient  in  itself  to  justify  the  breeding  of  them  to 
the  extent  that  they  have  been  bred. 

Harness  racing  seems  to  be  as  popular  as  ever,  but  the  demand 
for  road  horses,  misfits  in  the  breeding  of  race  horses,  has  been 
more  impaired  by  the  general  use  of  motors  than  has  that  for 
any  other  type  of  horse.  Without  an  outlet  for  the  ninety-nine, 
the  one  hundredth  one,  that  is  good  enough  to  race,  becomes  an 
expensive  proposition  to  produce.  ]S'o  one  is  unwise  enough  to 
advocate  the  breeding  of  race  horses  by  farmers,  but  the  economic 
importance  of  the  breed  depends  as  much  upon  what  is  to  become 
of  the  majority  of  the  colts  as  upon  the  successful  careers  of  the 
exceptional  few.     This  is  the  problem  in  this  breed  at  present. 

The  high-class  road  horse  or  gentleman's  driver  stands  a  fair 
chance  to  come  back,  perhaps,  but  the  road  horse  which  serves  only 
as  a  means  of  rapid  transit  can  never  hope  to  compete  again  with 
the  roadster  car.  There  is,  however,  a  practically  new  field  opened 
up  to  the  good-gaited,  well-mannered  trotter.  For  some  time 
trotters  have  been  used  in  a  limited  way  as  saddle  horses,  but  they 
have  been  backed  chiefly  by  trotting,  not  saddle,  horsemen.  Now 
riders  of  much  experience  have  been  heard  to,  say  that  if  more 
people  had  experienced  the  delightful  sensation  of  riding  trotting 
horses  more  would  l)e  ridden.  The  extended  trot  of  the  light- 
harness  horse  is  so  distinct  from  the  collected,   weight-carrying 


26  TiiE  HoKSE  Industry  in  New  York  State 

trot  of  the  true  saddle  horse,  and  they  are  so  different  in  the  way 
they  are  set  np,  that  it  seems  inconsistent  to  interchange  the  use 
of  either.  Yet  there  is  ample  and  proper  endorsement  of  the 
trotter  as  the  horse  to  ride  to  warrant  his  recommendation  for 
such  use.  Business  men  who  have  limited  time  in  which  to  ride 
for  exercise  are  especially  warm  in  their  commendation. 

j\luch  has  been  heard  of  the  remount  problem  of  late.  The 
Standardbred  has  always  given  a  good  account  of  himself  in 
service  and  appears  to  be  leading  in  the  solution  of  this  problem 
today,  notwithstanding  Thoroughbred  and  Saddle  Horse  conten- 
tion to  the  contrary.  If  a  census  of  the  thousands  of  horses  re- 
cruited for  foreign  service  in  this  country  the  past  few  months 
were  taken,  Standardbred  breeding  would  be  found  to  predomi- 
nate. This  fact  does  not  attest  the  greater  suitability  of  the  Stand- 
ardbred grades  as  mounts,  but  is  accounted  for  by  the  very  good 
reason  that  they  are  available  in  greater  numbers  and  in  more 
different  parts  of  the  country  than  any  other  horses  that  will 
serve  the  purpose  at  all.  The  country  is  already  stocked  with 
good  Standardbred  mares.  Are  they  not  our  greatest  asset  in  the 
remount  contingency  ? 

We,  of  New  York  State,  hold  the  Standardbred  in  highest 
esteem,  for  sentiment  and  state's  sake,  for  the  i>iorv  that  has  been 
his,  and  we  protest  against  counting  him  down  and  out,  as  some 
would  do,  for  time  to  come. 


THE  ARAB  HORSE 

H.  K.  Bush-Brow:s,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Secretary-Treasurer,  The  Arabian  Horse  Club  of  America 

ORIGIN 

The  earliest  histories  and  sculptural 
records  depict  the  horse,  and  usually  the 
Arab  horse.  There  is  &ome  question  as  to 
whether  this  ancient  type  of  horse  was  first 
known  in  Assyria  or  in  Northern  Africa. 
He  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  the  African 
horse  to  distinguish  him  from  the  Forest 
horse,  which  originated  in  Europe,  and  is 
therefore  called  the  European  horse. 

So  far  as  can  be  determined  there  are 
four  species  of  horses :  first,  the  Forest  horse  from  which  we  have 
the  draft  types,  commonly  called  ^'cold-blooded";  second,  the 
Arab  horse  or  hot-blooded  horse,  from  which  we  have  all  the  light 
and  fleet  horses,  and  the  admixtures  of  these  two  giving  the  coach 
types ;  third,  the  Arctic  horse  or  pony,  represented  by  the  Norway 
horse,  the  Conamara  pony,  and  the  small  horse  from  the  Xorth 
British  Islands ;  fourth,  the  Prezwalski  horse,  recently  discovered 
in  a  wild  state  in  Central  Africa,  only  a  few  of  which  are  to  be 
found  and  these  are  in  zoological  parks. 

ANATOMY 

The  earliest  fossil  type  of  horse  had  five  toes  and  five  developed 
hoofs;  he  was  small,  long-bodied  with  arched  back.  Then  came 
the  three-toed  fellow,  and  finally  the  one-toed  horse  as  we  know 
him,  with  the  two  side  toes  only  in  rudimentary  form  and  called  the 
splint  bones.  These  fossil  types  had  one  more  vertebrae  than 
the  modern  horses,  which  peculiarly  reasserts  itself  now  in  our 
sometimes  finding  seven  instead  of  six  lumbar  vertebrae.  The 
draft  t^'pes  have  the  regulation  twenty-four  vertebrae;  still  they 
are  further  elongated  in  the  body  by  the  thicker  padding  between 
the  bones,  and  are  from  four  to  eleven  per  cent  longer  than  they 
are  high  at  the  withers.     In  contrast  to  this  the  body  of  an  Arab 

[27] 


28 


The  Hoese  Industky  in  New  Yokk  State 


a;     „ 

C  'o 


The  Arab  Horse 


29 


horse  just  fills  a  square,  and  ke  has  one  less  vertebrae  m  the 
back-twenty-tlu-ee  instead  of  the  twenty-four  connnon  to  all 
other  horses,  even  those  so  closely  bred  to  the  Arab  as  the  f  l,or- 

In  the  evolution  of  the  horse  we  find,  as  we  go  from  the  ea.lv 

a„d  lower  types  to  the  later  and  higher  types,  this  course  ot  eyo- 

,tion  is  in  L  elimination  of  the  extra  toes  and  the  shortening 


Fifi.    7.     Three-Year-Old,    Ctboeo,   Bred   by   A^-ITA   :\I.    BAi.omx, 
Santa  Anita,  Cal. 

of  the  back  bv  reducing  the  number  of  vertebrae,  until  we  arrive 
at  the  highest  type  the  Aral)  with  only  twenty-three  vertebrae  m 
the  back. 

CAPACITY 

The  relation  of  proportion  and  anatomical  detail  to  capacity 
has  alwavs  been  recognized  by  the  trained  eye  of  men  who  have 
lived  ^vith  horses,  but  reducing  it  to  mathematical  terms  is  yet  to 
be  accomplished.  The  research  which  T  have  made  along  these 
lines  has  been  only  sufficient  to  disclose  the  largeness  ot  the  held 
that  must  be  cultivated  by  those  who  wish  to  work  therein. 


30  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

It  is  accepted  as  a  truism,  however,  that  a  long-waisted  horse 
is  not  a  strong  or  enduring  one  —  that  is,  long  in  the  loins  or 
lumbar  vertebrae.  Some  of  the  fossil  types  had  seven  or  eight 
lumbar  vertebrae.  William  C'avandish,  the  Duke  of  New  Castle, 
in  1654,  depicts  the  horse  of  that  time  with  seven.  This  probably 
was  an  accidental  revision  or  sport,  for  the  later  fossil  types 
had  the  regulation  six  common  to  all  modern  horses  except  the 
Axab  which  has  five,  or,  if  six  are  developed,  only  seventeen 
dorsal  vertebrae. 

This  shortness  of  the  back  of  the  Arab  sufficiently  explains  his 
great  weight-carrying  capacity  and  endurance,  which,  with  his 
extended  ribs  and  deep  chest  with  big  trottle  and  open-nostrils, 
gives  him  great  lung  capacity. 

It  is  in  the  transmission  of  some  of  these  qualities  to  his  off- 
spring, the  Thoronghbred  and  Trotter,  that  we  have  the  speed  and 
endurance  of  these  types.  With  three  centuries  of  artificial  se- 
lection for  special  functions  of  racing  we  have  produced  these 
separate  types  of  horses,  but  the  present  stock  remains  a  distinct 
type  by  itself,  largely  on  account  of  the  anatomical  difterences. 

HEREDITY 

In  the  horse  we  have  the  wonderful  opportunity  for  the  study 
of  heredity,  because  of  the  anatomical  difi^erences  that  exist  be- 
tween the  Arab  and  even  his  nearest  of  kin,  the  Thoroughbred 
and  Trotter.  For  three  hundred  years  we  have,  by  special  selection 
for  capacity,  produced  our  modern  types,  using  the  dams  of  the 
European  horse  with  the  sire  of  the  Arab  horse,  constantly  re- 
fining and  reenforcing  from  the  Arab,  until  we  have  in  the  Thor- 
oughbred 99  per  cent  and  more  of  Aj-ab  blood ;  but  with  all  this 
selection  I  fail  to  find  a  Thoroughbred  skeleton  with  the  twenty- 
three  vertebrae  of  the  Arab.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have  the 
Arab  horse  bred  with  religious  care  by  the  desert  tribes,  always 
tracing  their  pedigrees  from  the  dam,  and  for  three  thousand 
years  they  have  maintained  a  pure  type  with  twenty-three  verte- 
brae. 

These  facts  have  forced  me  to  accept  this  theory  until  the  con- 
trary is  proved  true :  that  the  dam  has  more  control  over  the  pro- 


The  Arab  Horse 


31 


portion  and  anatomy  of  the  foal  than  the  sire.  The  investigations 
I  have  made  so  far  have  g'one  to  snpport  this  theory.  The  details 
of  this  research  I  cannot  give  in  the  space  allowed  for  this  writing. 
The  pure  and  intense  type  will  also  more  surely  dominate  the 
characteristics  of  the  foal,  and  diagonally  crossing  the  warp  and 
woof  of  inheritance  is  the  law  of  cross  sex  similarity  so  frequently 
apparent.  Thus  the  son  favors  the  mother's  family  and  the 
dauo-hter  the  father's. 


Fig.  S.     Cross  Bet\™en  a  Kentucky  Saddle  Sire  and  a  Pxjre- 
Bred  Arab  Dam. 


To  return  to  the  opportunities  of  horse  breeding— we  have  to 
find  out  something  by  breeding  the  pure  Arab  mare  with  twenty- 
three  vertebrae  to  the  Thoroughbred,  the  Trotter  and  Morgan, 
which  are  kindred  types  with  twenty-four  vertebrae,  and,  by  re- 
search, discover  how  many,  if  not  all,  of  the  produce  will  have 
twentv-three  vertebrae;  also  what  the  result  would  be  from  the 
second  generation  by  breeding  to  each  of  the  original  types. 


32  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  Yokk  State 

future  possibilities  in  heredity 
My  observation  leads  me  to  believe  we  can  produce  an  American 
Arab  oa*  Thoroughbred  —  whichever  it  may  be  decided  to  call  the 
family  having  the  additional  size  and  the  anatomy  and  proportion 
of  the  Arab  —  which,  by  reason  of  this  increase  of  size  and 
shortening  of  back,  will  be  a  more  enduring  and  better  horse  than 
either  of  his  ancestors.  To  accomplish  results  on  such  lines  certain 
individuals  must  be  selected  for  anatomical  research,  and  their 
skeletons  preserved  in  some  museum  so  that  those  who  follow  the 
investigation  may  do  so  from  generation  to  generation.  It  cannot 
be  accomplished  by  any  haphazard  or  catch-as-catch-cau  method. 
To  show  the  value  of  continuous  careful  study,  let  us  review  the 
influence  of  the  Arab  on  horse  breeding  of  the  last  few  centuries 
in  this  country. 

REVIEW 

The  influence  of  Arab  blood  in  this  country  goes  back  to  colonial 
times  when  all  the  importations  of  race  horses  to  this  country 
had  been  bred  in  England,  from  the  ten  recently  imported  Arab 
sires.  The  one  who  had  the  greatest  influence  on  Anierican  horses 
was  Messenger,  who  was  thrice  a  grandson  of  Godolphin  Arabian 
and  also  bred  to  Byerly  Turk,  Greyhound,  Curwan  Arab,  and 
Darley  Arabian.  He  was  imported  in  1788,  and  all  Thorough- 
breds, all  Trotters,  All  Kentucky  Saddle  Horses- — and  one  may 
safely  say  all  the  horses  that  are  good  for  anything  —  carry  the 
blood  of  Messenger. 

Scarcely  less  important  was  the  importation  from  the  desert 
of  the  stallion  Grand  Bashawj  who  came  a  few  years  after 
Messenger  and  was  mated  to  his  daughters.  In  ISll  he  was  bred 
to  Pearl,  the  daughter  of  First  Consul  who  was  herself  six  times 
bred  to  Godolphin  Arabian  and  caiTied  the  blood  of  Byerly  Turk, 
Laads  Arabian  and  Darley  Arabian.  The  produce  was  Young 
Bashaw  who  was  bred  to  the  descendants  of  Messenger,  and  thus 
produced  the  families  of  Andrew  Jackson,  Long  Island,  Black 
Hawk,  and  Henry  Clay, 

All  the  Trotters  of  this  country  carry  the  blood  of  Grand 
Bashaw  and  the  best  of  them  go  back  to  him  on  almost  every  line 
of  ancestry. 


The  Arab  Hokse 


33 


34  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

I  have  no  information  of  Arab  horses  tliat  may  have  come  to 
this  country  between  the  time  of  Grand  Bashaw  and  about  1856, 
when  Keene  Richards  of  Kentucky  imported  quite  a  number  of 
stallions  and  mares.  His  breedings  were  destroyed  or  scattered 
by  the  Civil  War,  yet  their  intlueuce  can  be  traced  as  important 
factors  in  the  Kentucky  Saddle  Horses  of  today.  One  of  Keene 
Richards'  horses  produced  the  race  horse  Limestone,  and  another 
the  dam  of  Dorsey's  Golddust. 

After  the  battle  of  Pittsburgh  Landing  (Shiloh)  General 
Breckenridge  escaped  from  capture  by  the  federal  troops,  who 
were  on  Thoroughbred  horses,  by  driving  two  half-bred  Arab  fillies 
of  Keene  Richards  that  were  only  gTeen  three-year-olds. 

Umbark  was  presented  to  President  Van  Buren.  While  -Hon. 
AVilliam  Seward  was  Secretary  of  State  under  Lincoln  he  was  pre- 
sented with  the  Arab  stallions  ALeaneke  Hedragi  and  Siklany. 
Leopard  and  Linden  Tree  were  given  to  General  Grant  by  the 
Sultan  of  Turkey, 

In  1856  Mr.  Randolph  Huntington  imported  Xaomi,  and  in 
1893  her  daughter  Xazli  and  grandson  Ximr.  These  important 
importations  were  followed  by  others  of  ]\lr.  J.  A.  P.  Ramsdell 
and  Colonel  Spencer  Borden  of  Fall  River,  Mass. 

In  1893  a  large  number  of  high-class  Arabs  were  imported  for 
the  World's  Fair  under  agreement  that  they  were  to  be  returned 
to  Assyria,  but  they  were  sold  for  debt,  only  a  few  being  rescued 
from  oblivion  by  Peter  B.  Bradley  and  Homer  Davenport. 

Descendants  of  all  these  horses  have  figured  very  prominently 
in  the  show  ring  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  and  in  the  long 
distance  test  of  300  miles  in  Vermont  last  year,  they  held  first, 
third  and  fourth  places,  second  place  being  given  to  a  ^lorgan 
horse. 

In  1906  Mr.  Homer  Davenport  imported  the  most  important 
and  largest  bunch  of  horses  that  ever  left  the  desert  of  Arabia. 
There  were  some  twenty -five  mares  and  stallions,  counting  the 
foals  at  foot  and  in  utero.  Their  value  may  be  gauged  by  stating 
that  the  Italian  Government  paid  in  Assyria  $10,000  for  the 
brother  of  Deyr,  one  of  the  horses  Davenport  brought  home. 

It  is  too  soon  to  estimate  the  importance  of  these  horses  or 
the  influence  that  they  will  have,  but,  judging  by  what  has  been 


The  Arab  Hokse 


35 


Fig.    10.     Abdalla  Xo.  52.     Owxed  by  X.  J.  Hess,  Xew  York  City. 


accomplished,  they  are  going  to  imjiress  themselves  ou  the  stock 
of  this  country  just  as  the  earlier  importations  have  done.  For 
instance,  one  of  these  desert-bred  horses,  Haleb,  "was  shown  in 
Rutland  in  the  Class  for  the  best  type  of  ^lorgans,  and  was  given 
the  cup  over  the  Vermont-bred  ^lorgan  horses. 

The  value  of  these  horses  to  the  American  people  will  be  in  pro- 
portion to  the  intelligence  with  which  they  are  bred,  and  it  would 
seem  to  be  the  duty  of  the  state  experiment  stations  to  take  hold 
of  this  necessary  research  breeding  in  a  really  scientific  spirit, 
where  its  pursuit  will  not  be  influenced  by  the  whims  of  individ- 
ual breeders  or  be  subject  to  the  limitations  of  one  man's  lifetime. 

Heretofore  we  have  been  content  to  accept  our  types  of  horses 
largely  from  Europe,  and  continue  their  studbooks  with  slavish 
contentment  and  gratitude.     In  spite  of  this  tendency  we  hav& 


36  Thk  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

demonstrated  our  capacity  to  be  iudependent  by  creating  the 
American  Trotter,  which  has  gone  all  over  the  world,  and  the 
Morgan  horse,  which,  for  general  purposes,  has  had  no  superior. 
The  Kentucky  Saddle  Horse  is  also  a  recognized  type.  With  this 
history  before  us  is  it  too  much  to  predict  that  horse  breeders 
should  not  close  the  doors  of  research,  and  say  they  know  all  there 
is  to  know  about  horses  and  horse  breeding? 

BEAUTY  AND  INTELLIGENCE 

There  are  two  essential  characteristics  of  the  Arab  horse  which 
have  intrinsic  merit  and  financial  value.  They  are  intelligence 
and  beauty.  As  the  use  of  electricity  and  gasoline  for  motive 
power  relieves  the  horse  of  his  former  position  of  universal 
drudge,  he  returns  to  his  own  original  position  —  the  companion 
of  man  in  his  pleasure  in  times  of  peace,  and  the  salvation  of  man 
in  time  of  war. 

If  there  ever  was  the  need  of  considering  the  maximum  ef- 
ficiency of  a  war  horse,  now  is  the  time.  The  test  given  last  year 
in  France  of  1,000  kilometers,  under  hard  military  service, 
showed  the  Arab-bred  horse  to  be  the  most  enduring;  but  this 
has  been  demonstrated  so  many  times  and  in  so  many  ways,  that 
it  is  only  a  question  of  how  best  to  use  and  continue  the  Arab 
blood  we  already  have  in  this  country. 

In  addition  to  attaining  these  most  useful  qualities  of  endur- 
ance by  use  of  Arab  blood,  we  have  also  the  marked  advantage 
of  beauty  and  intelligence  which  he  possesses,  and,  if  we  will  fol- 
low the  laws  of  heredity  and  carefully  record  the  results,  we  can 
improve  on  the  horses  we  have  in  any  direction  of  utility  and 
beauty  we  may  desire.  At  present  the  state  experiment  stations 
would  seem  to  be  the  means  of  carrying  out  such  work  and  divid- 
ing the  many  methods  of  procedure. 

Let  us  take  up  this  work  in  a  cooperative  spirit  of  research 
that  we  may  make  the  most  of  this  most  interesting  science. 


THE  THOROUGHBRED 

Lieutenant  N.  C.  Shiveeick,  "Ashantee,"  Avon,  N.  Y. 

ARABIAN  FOUNDATION 

In  speaking  of  horses  one  often  hears  the  word  "  thoroughbred  " 
misused.     There  can  be  no  such  thing  as  a  thoroughbred  Perch- 
erou,  a  thoroughbred  Clyde,  Shire  or  other  type;  ''pure^bred" 
is  the  term  which  should  be  used,  and  this  term  pure-bred  may 
be  applied  to  any  type  of  horse,  each  of  whose  parents  is  pure 
bred   and   of  the   same   type  —  pure-bred   Percheron,    pure-bred 
Clyde,  etc.     Thoroughbred  is  the  name  of  a  distinct  type  of  horse, 
developed  through  centuries  of  breeding  and  Tacing.     All  Thor- 
oughbred horses"  trace  their  lineage  through  the  records  of  the 
American  and  English  Studbook  back  to  one  of  the  three  great 
foundation  sires,  either  the  Godolphin  Arabian,  the  Byerly  Turk 
or  the  D'arley  Arabian.   The  Thoroughbred's  foundation  was  Arab, 
and  it  might  be  said  that  it  practically  began  where  the  Arab  left 
off.     I  mean  that  the  Thoroughbred,  resting  its  foundation  on  the 
Arab,  thence  forward  until  now,  has  been  developed  through  the 
science,  care  and  wealth  of  the  most  enlightened,  wealthiest  and 
ablest  nations  of  the  world. 

TRANSMITS  ENDURANCE 

In  developing  the  Thoroughbred,  there  has  always  been  the  one 
definite  object,  namely,  to  breed  an  individual  gamer,  stronger, 
hardier  and  more  intelligent  than  his  forebears.  Thus  for  cen- 
turies the  one  object  of  Thoroughbred  breeders  has  been  to  inten- 
sify in  the  "  get  "  the  best  of  its  ancestors,  and  in  each  genera- 
tion to  eliminate  minor  defects  and  to  cull  out  the  undesirable 
points  or  characteristics.  Since  no  other  breed  has  been  so  fa- 
vored, it  is  unintelligent  to  even  suggest  that  any  breed  can  be 
considered  equal  to  the  Thoroughbred  in  what  we  might  call  racial 
transmission. 

Throughout  all  nature  and  all  activities  of  natural  things,  im- 
provement occurs  in  consequence  of  care  and  selection.  Why 
breed  to  a  Thoroughbred  ?  Because  he  transmits  more  desirable 
qualities,  physical  and  mental,  than  does  any  other  horse.     This 

[37] 


38 


The  IIokse  Industry  in  'New  York  State 


The  Thorougiibked  39 

does  not  reflect  on  any  one  or  all  of  the  recognized  breeds, 
as  each  has  its  definite  function,  but,  in  the  general  case,  the 
Thoroughbred  as  a  sire  will  give  the  fanner  better  returns  than 
any  other  breed,  due  to  his  athletic  ancestors,  and  the  quality 
of  bone,  muscle,  nerve,  blood  and  intelligence  which  they  have 
transmitted.  The  Thoroughbred,  pound  for  pound  of  food  con- 
sumed, will  wear  out  any  other  type  of  horse  at  the  same  kind 
of  work.  This  does  not  mean  to  say  that  the  poorest  of  the 
Thoroughbreds  will  kill  off  the  best  of  the  Clydes,  Shires  or  other 
breeds  in  heavy  farm  work,  but  it  means  that  the  best  of  the 
Thoroughbreds  against  the  best  of  the  others,  or  the  average  of 
the  Thoroughbreds  against  the  average  of  the  others,  will  cer- 
tainly deliver  a  much  higher  efficiency  in  proportion  to  his  weight, 
his  food  and  his  care,  than  any  other  breed.  He  will  outdo  any 
type  of  horse,  be  it  at  the  plow,  on  the  binder,  in  the  hunting 
field,  or  in  military  service.  His  gameness,  toughness  and  intel- 
ligence will  bring  him  in  the  winner. 

One  may  have  certain  very  slow  heavy  work  to  be  done.  In 
this  case  the  weight  is  required ;  hence,  use  a  draft  horse  —  a 
big,  slow-moving,  cold-blooded  Percheron,  Shire,  Clyde,  or  other 
of  their  kind.  One  may  want  a  very  fast  trotting  road  horse; 
then  take  a  Standardbred,  and  so  on  in  special  cases.  But  where 
there  is  need  of  a  general  utility  horse, —  one  that  will  plow  today, 
reap  tomorrow,  drive  to  church  on  Sunday,  and  one  which  pulls 
more,  goes  farther  and  gets  there  faster  for  the  amount  of  feed 
consumed  —  use  the  infusion  of  Thoroughbred  blood. 

TRUE    TYPE 

This  bears  no  reference  to  the  weed  type  of  Thoroughbred. 
The  weed  is  the  outcast  of  the  breed.  He  comes  from  the  patron- 
age given  two-year-old  racing,  and  is  the  result  of  the  breeding 
which  seeks  to  produce  speed,  speed,  and  more  speed,  at  the  ex- 
pense of  wholesome  balance.  Under  the  tremendous  strain  of 
training  for  racing  during  his  immaturity,  he  becomes  a  victim 
of  arrested  development,  and  the  only  reason  he  does  not  succumb 
to  this  forced  or  too  rigorous  course  is  his  inheritance  of  spirit, 
which  can  strive  against  great  odds. 


40 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


The  Thoroughbred  in  mind  is  the  fnlly-developed  survivor  of 
rigorous  work  and  training,  whose  inherited  constitution,  stamina 
and  will,  carry  him  on  to  a  full,  wholesome  development;  whose 
physical  points  include  a  big,  roomy  lung  cavity,  and  a  bread- 
basket affording  comfortable  space  for  a  properly-working  diges- 
tive apparatus,  which  indicates  that  he  is  a  "  good  doer  "  or  an 
"easy  keeper."  This  is  the  type  which  for  years  the  German 
Government  has  bred  for  army  horses.     The  Germans  have  paid 


Fig.  12.     Prize-Winning  Two- Year-Old. 


as  high  as  $230,000  for  a  single  Thoroughbred  stallion  to  use  in 
their  groat  government  studs,  and  now,  in  the  bitterness  of  war, 
their  breeding  policy  proves  its  correctness  —  the  efficiency  of 
their  methods  in  building  a  war  machine.  AVith  their  superior 
horses,  they  have  made  superior  marches,  attacks,  etc.,  and  their 
horses  are  of  Thoroughbred  sires.  We  have  heard  no  word  of 
Germany  suffering  from  want  of  horses.  Of  course  they  sustain 
losses  from  all  war  causes,  but  I  think  future  histories  will  show 
that  their  percentage  of  losses  through  fatigue,  etc.,  is  much  lower 
than  the  percentage  of  the  Allies'  horse-losses  from  similar  causes. 


The  Thoroughbred  41 

jnst  as  past  history  proves  that  the  Thoroughbreds  of  the  South 
were  immeasurably  superior  to  the  cold-blooded,  cross-bred  horses 
of  the  Xorth.  Northern  cavalry  begau  to  be  effective  iu  the  Civil 
War  only  when  the  limited  supply  of  southern  Thoroughbreds 
began  to  be  exhausted. 

PREPOTE^fCY 

Prepotency  is  kno'^ai  to  intensify  in  direct  proportion  to  the 
established  purity  of  an  individuaFs  ancestors,  and  the  purity 
of  ancestors  is  manifested  by  their  pedigrees,  which  means  an 
accurate  knowledge  of  ancestors.  We  find  in  the  Thoroughbreds, 
more  than  in  any  other  breed,  the  longest  line  of  known  ancestors 
bred  from  selected  performers,  and  each  generation  bred  to  in- 
tensify the  de^'elopment  of  those  qualities  most  desired  in  any 
type  of  horse,  namely,  intelligence,  gameness,  constitution,  and 
ability  to  perform  in  proportion  to  environment. 

Breeders  know  that  the  percentage  of  uncertainties  increases 
in  a  geometrical  ratio  with  every  outcross,  hence  when  breeding 
a  female  of  unknown  lineage,  wisdom  prescribes  the  use  of  a 
sire  of  definitely  determined  prepotency,  and  this  is  necessarily 
best  established  in  the  Thoroughbred. 

THOROCGHBREDS  ARE  INTELLIGENT;   THEY  WILL  NOT  STAND  ABUSE 

The  only  objection  to  the  Thoroughbred,  as  a  general-purpose 
horse,  that  I  have  ever  heard  expressed  by  farmers  is,  that  they 
are  too  hot-headed ;  that  they  require  more  careful  driving  and 
handling  than  animals  sired  by  an  individual  of  the  draft  breeds. 
Fpon  consideration  of  this  statement,  one  must  conclude  that 
these  farmers  desired  cold-blooded,  low-spirited  beasts  which 
would  not  resent  abuse.  Animals  of  gameness  will  not  stand 
abuse,  but  neither  will  they  He  down  when  they  are  tired.  Horses, 
like  men,  and  like  other  animals  which  have  no  fighting  spirit  and 
which  will  stand  abuse  without  resentment,  will  also  quit  when 
their  work  becomes  tiring.  They  have  neither  determination  to 
do  their  work  nor  the  heart  to  go  on  to  a  finish. 

While  the  cold-bred  horse  takes  abuse  from  a  brutal  driver, 
and  sullenly,  half-heartedly  plods  on,  the  Thoroughbred  makes 
known  that  he  will  not  be  mistreated.     The  fanner  hears  of  it 


42  The  Hokse  Industry  iisr  New  York  State 

and  has  a  basis  for  discharging-  a  In-ntal  employee,  and  getting 
in  his  place  a  man  who  will  take  his  employer's  interest  to  heart 
as  well  as  his  own,  and  who  will  keep  his  team  doing  a  full  day's 
work  with  a  light  and  happy  heart.  The  man  who  drives  his  team 
with  cnrses,  whipping,  jerking  and  abnsing,  keeps  them  in  a 
mental  state  which  only  a  slnggard  can  stand,  and  the  world 
knows  that  slnggards  are  not  performers.  This  does  not  mean 
that  the  pnre-bred  drafter  is  a  slnggard;  no  pure-bred  animal  is. 
There  may  be  exceptions,  but  no  class  of  pure-breds  are  slug- 
gards. The  pnre-bred  drafter,  due  to  his  enormous  size,  has  a 
bullying  eifect  on  a  brutal  driver,  as  brutal  people  are  generally 
not  courageous  at  heart. 

MANY  NOT  TRUE  TTrOROFGUBREDS 

Too  often  opinions  are  expressed  which  are  founded  on  some 
special  case,  instead  of  being  the  outcome  of  a  really  comprehen- 
sive knowledge  and  due  regard  for  the  facts  in  general.  The 
Thoroughbred  does  not  enjoy  the  reputation  among  farmers  that 
he  is  entitled  to,  and  this  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that,  generally 
speaking,  the  Thoroughbreds  found  in  American  rural  districts 
are  outcasts  from  racing  studs  —  and  even  Thoroughbreds  follow 
the  laws  of  the  universe  inasmuch  as  all  cannot  be  up  to  stand- 
ard—  while  the  specimens  of  draft  breeds  in  our  rural  districts 
are  usually  of  the  best.  Had  our  government  made  a  practice  of 
selecting  excellent  Thoroughbred  stallions,  and  through  them  fos- 
tering the  breeding  of  horses,  the  position  of  the  Thoroughbred 
would  be  established  throughout  the  land. 

LESS  AFFECTED  BY  AUTOS  OR  TRACTORS 

At  this  time,  with  the  fast  development  of  farm  tractors,  many 
thoughtful  people  express  the  belief  that  the  need  for  farm  horses 
must  necessarily  decrease,  and,  if  the  advance  in  tractor  manu- 
facture approaches  the  progress  of  the  automobile,  there  can  be 
no  doubt  about  it.  A  motor  converts  its  food  into  a  knowm  amount 
of  work.  It  never  eats  while  idle,  whereas  the  horse  must  eat 
daily,  work  or  no  work.  There  are  no  epidemics  of  diseases  or 
unknown  ailments  of  motors  as  is  the  case  with  horses. 

Hence,  what  is  the  profitable  horse  for  the  farmer  of  to-day  to 


The  Thoroughbred 


43 


raise?  It  is  the  type  of  horse  whose  utility  cannot  be  supplanted 
h\  any  machine- — the  horse  which  is  in  demand  and  the  demand 
for  which  is  increasing,  such  as  a  hunter  or  a  military  horse.  If 
he  is  wanted  for  farm  use  he  is  available,  as  well  as  for  any  other 
purpose,  especially  military. 

VALUE    FOR   ARMY    PURPOSES 

The  present  strife  in  Europe  insures  a  splendid  demand  for 
our  horses  for  years  to  come,  as,  after  the  war,  Europe  will  for 


Fig.  13.     Tiiokouuubred  Siiowis"  at  State  Faik. 


a  long  period  be  unable  to  meet  its  own  demands  for  military 
horses.  All  such  horses  are  increasingly  valuable  as  their  pro- 
portion of  Thoroughbred  blood  is  greater,  whether  for  cavalry  or 
artillery.  In  gun  horses,  intelligence,  spirit,  speed  and  gameness 
as  well  as  size  are  wanted;  hence  a  horse  having  a  grand-dam  of 
draft  breeding  and  a  grandsire  and  sire  of  Thoroughbred,  is  the 
type  most  desired,  while  the  cavalry  mount  is  ideally  a  hunter, 


44  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

and  a  luniter  means  anywhere  from  one-half-bred  to  clean-bred 
Thoroughbred. 

The  essentials  in  military  horses  and  hunting  horses  can  be 
had  only  from  strong  infusions  of  Thoroughbred  blood.  One  may 
smile  at  the  idea  of  breeding  a  draft  mare  to  a  Thoroughbred 
stallion,  but  it  is  due  to  ignorance.  That  cross  may  produce  an 
excellent  gun-horse,  and  the  second  Thoroughbred  cross  is  sure  to. 

Of  course  there  are  instances  of  individuals  of  all  breeds  having 
exactly  the  qualities  generally  sought  in  other  breeds,  due  to  the 
fickleness  of  nature  in  cross-bred  matings ;  but  business  which 
depends  on  exceptions  is  not  business.  There  is  no  question  but 
that  marvelous  performances  will  be  found  in  badly  bred  horses, 
but  they  are  rare,  and  only  foolish  people  try  to  get  these  "  sports  " 
by  cross-breeding.  More  good  in  more  cases  comes  from  Thor- 
oughbred breeding  than  from  any  other. 

All  farmers  breed  some  horses  —  perhaps  only  one  mare,  and 
that  may  be  only  every  other  year.  Even  so,  it  is  poor  business 
and  bad  farming  if  the  owner  does  not  breed  to  get  a  marketable 
type  of  horse.  There  is  no  question  but  that  the  most  salable 
horse  today  is  the  horse  suitable  for  hunting  or  for  military 
service.  The  inexpensive  autos  have  destroyed  the  usefulness  of 
the  roadster  from  an  economical  standpoint,  and  similarly  the 
motor-truck  in  cities  and  the  tractor  on  farms  are  crowding  out 
the  draft  horse. 

While  automobiles  are  generally  said  to  be  replacing  horses, 
one  must  accept  this  statement  with  a  qualification  as  to  Thorough- 
bred horses ;  the  demand  for  this  type  is  greater  today  than  ever 
before.  It  is  constantly  increasing,  due  to  the  demonstrations 
of  the  present  war  that  horses  are  as  necessary  today  in  the  conduct 
of  warfare  as  ever  before,  and  probably  more  so ;  and  it  will  be 
generations  before  the  enormous  loss  of  the  present  war  can  be 
made  up. 

Then,  too,  the  demand  for  hunters  is  greater  than  ever,  and, 
with  the  growing  popularity  of  hunting  and  racing,  this  demand 
must  grow.  It  offers  a  lucrative  field  for  breeders  of  horses 
suitable  for  hunting  or  for  military  service,  and  these,  pre- 
eminently, must  have  strong  infusions  of  Thoroughbred  blood. 


The  Thoroughbred 


45 


CARE  OF  FOAL  MOST  IMPORTANT 

After  the  foal  arrives,  do  not  turn  him  out  to  be  forgotten, 
but  see  that  he  has  sufficient  food  to  help  him  grow,  and,  in  the 
winter,  that  he  has  access  to  shelter  for  protection  against  wet  and 
against  cold  winds.  Cold  witliout  winds  probably  tends  to 
make  well-fed  colts  hardy  horses.  Size  is  attained  by  care  and 
feeding,  and  size  means  increase  in  selling  price.  The  founda- 
tion given  during  the  first  year  gives  the  youngster  a  start  in 
growing  that  cannot  be  over-estimated.  Neglect  the  weanling, 
and  double  the  food  during  the  second  year  will  never  make  up 
for  the  vitality  lost  while  struggling  through  the  first  winter. 


46 


The  Hokse  I:xDusTiiY  ix  New  Yokk  State 


Fig.  14.    Golden  Flight. 


THE  AMERICAN  SADDLE  HORSE 


Elise  Castlemax  Railey,  Lexington,  Ky. 

DERIVATION 

The  American  Saddle  Horse  Breeders'  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  the  city  of  Louisville  April  7,  1891,  a  number  of  the  lead- 
ing breeders  of  saddle  horses  being  present  and  participating  in 
the  preliminary  proceedings.  The  asso- 
ciation was  duly  chartered  according  to 
Chapter  56  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of 
Kentucky.  In  article  three  of  the  consti- 
tution and  by-laws  of  the  association  is 
found  under  the  heading  '*  objects,"  the 
following:  "  The  objects  of  the  association 
shall  be  to  collect,  record  and  preserve  the 
pedigrees  of  saddle  horses  in  America,  and 
to  publish  such  register  in  such  form  as 
shall  be  adopted  by  the  association,  and  such  other  matters  per- 
taining to  the  breeding,  exhibition  and  sale  of  saddle  horses  as 
may  be  deemed  advisable." 

In  order  to  establish  rules  for  the  registration  of  animals  by 
breedina;  it  became  necessarv  for  the  directors  of  the  association 
to  select  certain  great  sires  and  enter  them  as  the  source  of  saddle 
stock.  The  intention  was  to  get  back  to  the  source,  so  it  was  not 
desirable  that  the  list  be  a  long  one.  Only  progenitors  of  what 
were  knowTi  to  the  board  to  be  saddle  strains  of  horses  were 
selected  for  the  foundation  list.  The  list  originally  selected  in 
1901  comprised  the  names  of  seventeen  stallions.  In  1902  this 
list  was  revised,  and  the  names  of  seven  stallions  were  removed 
and  numbers  were  set  opposite  their  names.  This  list  of  founda- 
tion sires  stood  until  the  annual  meeting  in  1908  when  the  names 
of  nine  stallions  were  removed  from  the  register  and  numbers  set 
after  their  names.  Thus  all  were  eliminated  except  the  great 
Denmark,  and  he  was  made  the  sole  foundation  sire  of  the 
American  Saddle  Horse. 

Quoting  from  David  Castleman,  reproduced  from  "  The  Ameri- 
can Saddle  Horse :"  "  In  eighteen  yeai'^  since  the  formation  of 

[47] 


48 


The  Hokse  I>'DrsTKY  in  Xew  Yoek  State 


this  association,  it  has  been  fully  demonstrated  that  no  horse  was 
worthy  to  stand  by  Denmark's  side  as  a  foundation  sire.  Proof 
of  this  statement  is  conclusively  given  in  the  iirst  volume  of  the 
register,  for.  of  the  two  thousand  nine  hundred  and  eighty-one 
entries,  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty-three  —  or  practically 
fifty-five  and  one-half  per  cent  —  have  direct  male  trace  to  Den- 
mark by  Imp.  Hedgeford  out  of  Betsy  Harrison  by  Aratus. 
The  fact  that  the  sire  of  Denmark  was  imported  makes  it  im- 


FiG.  15. 


Daixty  Peaxixe  by  Goldex  Kixg  (Jut  of  Betty  Hack- 
ADAY  BY  Rex  Peaxixe. 


possible  that  the  blood  lines  which  produced  him  should  find  large 
repret-entation  in  the  thoroughbred  blood  which  has  gone  to  make 
the  American  Saddle  Horse.  However,  that  he  sired  Denmark 
places  us  heavily  in  his  debt." 

Imp.  Hedgeford  was  a  brown  colt  foaled  in  1825,  bred  by  a 
Mr.  Mytton.  He  was  imported  by  William  Jackson  and  brought 
to  Kentucky  where  he  died  in  1840.  It  is  deplorable  that  we 
have  no  accurate  description  of  him  other  than  that  he  was  very 
beautiful.  Mr,  John  B.  Lentz,  who  was  still  living  in  190.5,  re- 
membered Imp.  Hedgeford,  and  said  of  him :  "He  was  a  horse  of 
wonderful  style  and  beauty,  and  a  great  two-ended  one." 


The  Amekicax  Saddle  Horse 


4:9 


Betsy  Harrison,  the  dam  of  Denmark,  was  a  bay  mare  toaled 
in  1828,  and  was  owned,  in  1S39.  by  Samuel  Davenport  of 
Kentucky.  Thus  Mr.  Davenport  has  the  honor  of  breeding  the 
great  Denmark.  Betsy  Harrison  was  by  Aratus  and  out  of  Jenny 
Cocraev  bv  Old  Potomac. 

Denmark  was  a  brown  colt;  a  game  and  consistent  four-mile 
race  horse.  Individually  he  is  said  to  have  been  a  horse  of  great 
beautv.  He  has  built  a  monument  to  himself  as  a  sire  of  pre- 
potency never  excelled,  and  as  a  consequence  is  the  founder  of  a 
great  breed  of  horses. 

Gaines  Denmark  by  Denmark  is  out  of  a  mare  by  Cockspur, 
k-nown  as  the  Stevenson  mare,  who  was  foaled  on  the  farm  belong- 
inc  to  Mr.  WiUiam  V.  Cromwell  of  Fayette  County  in  1S51. 
Gaines  Denmark  was  a  coal  black  horse  with  both  hind  ankles 
white.  He  is  the  live  wire  of  the  Denmark  family.  Denmark  got 
other  sons  of  note  who  produced  great  Saddle  Horses,  but  their 
work  is  insiffnilicant  in  comparison  with  the  Denmark.  It  is 
worthv  of  note  that  Gaines  Denmark  and  John  DiUard  served  m 
the  Civil  War  in  General  Morgan's  command,  and  these  two  old 
stallions  set  a  worthy  example  of  courage  and  loyalty  to  many  of 
their  descendants  who  served  with  them. 

The  four  most  notable  sons  of  Gaines  Denmark  were  Washing- 
ton Denmark,  Diamond  Denmark,  Star  Denmark  and  Sumpter 
Denmark:  of  these  Washington  Denmark  and  Diamond  Denmark 
are  of  outstanding  importance.  The  two  most  notable  sons  of 
Washington  Denmark  are  King  William  and  Cromwell,  and  of 
Diamond  Denmark,  Montrose  and  Mark  Diamond.  King  \S  il- 
liam  was  the  sire  of  Black  Eagle,  whose  dam  was  Kitty  Richards 
bv  Young  Eagle,  and  he  by  Gray  Eagle.  Black  Eagle  was  the 
sire  of  Black  Squirrel:  Black  Squirrel  was  the  sire  of  Chester 
Dare,  Hi-hland  Denmark  and  many  other  famous  horses. 

The  daughters  of  Chester  Dare  are  in  the  greatest  demana 
because  thev  invariably  transmit  the  incomparable  beauty  of  the 
Chester  Dare  head  — the  flaring  nostril,  the  breadth  between  the 
eves  betokening  rare  intelligence,  slightly  dished  face,  and  the 
wellKiarried,  beautiful  ears.  Caroline  is  Chester  Dare's  most 
famous  daughter.  Chester  Dare  sired  My  O^nti  Kentucky  and  he 
sired  Kentucky's  Choice  and  Kentucky's  Best.  These  two  beau- 
4 


50 


The  Horse  Ixdustry  ix  Xew  York  State 


Fig.  16.     Carolina  by  Chester  Dare  Out  of  Nellie  Black  Hawk. 


tiful  black  horses  are  full  brothers,  both  being  out  of  Little  Kate 
by  Prince  of  Denmark,  a  great-grandson  of  Washington  Den- 
mark. Chester  Dare  sired  My  Dare  who  sired  My  Major  Dare 
who  is  out  of  Lilly  Rosebud  and  she  by  Elastic,  a  grandson  of 
Black  Squirrel. 

To  breeders  and  students  of  the  Saddle  Horse,  the  meanings 
of  the  terms  "  the  Denmark  Family  "  and  ''  the  Chief  Family  " 
are  clearly  understood,  but  to  horsemen  not  familiar  with  the 
Saddle  Horse  pedigrees  these  terms  are  confusing.  The  name 
Harrison  Chief  is  in  the  list  of  sires  originally  set  aside  by  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  American  Saddle  Llorse  Breeders'  Regis- 
ter, but,  as  I  have  already  written,  because  of  the  overwhelming 
number  of  Saddle  Horses  that  trace  direct  to  Denmark,  he  is 
known  as  the  foundation  sire.  However,  a  horse  that  traces  to 
foundation  stock  —  to  any  one  of  the  stallions  whose  names  are 
given  in  Volume  I  of  the  American  Saddle  Horse  Breeders' 
Register  —  is  eligible  to  registration. 


The  Americax  Saddle  Horse  51 

The  term  Chief  Family  usually  means  the  descendants  of 
Harrison  Chief.  The  sire  of  Harrison  Chief  was  Clark  Chief 
by  Mambrino  Chief.  Both  of  the  latter  horses  are  in  the  Trotting 
Register.  They  breed  back  to  Imp.  ^Messenger,  one  being  his 
great-grandson,  and  one  his  great-great-grandson.  Imp.  Mes- 
senger was  one  of  the  great  Thoroughbreds  of  his  time  and  is  said 
to  have  had  a  trot  of  unusual  action,  speed  and  balance.  This 
he  has  transmitted  with  marvelous  precision  to  the  eighth 
generation. 

Young  Bill,  now  o^\^led  by  the  goverimient,  was  the  champion 
harness  horse  of  Kentucky ;  and  Golden  Flight,  who  like  Young 
Bill  is  by  Golden  King,  is  just  beginning  a  career.  King,  the 
sire  of  Golden  King  (therefore  the  grand-sire  of  Golden  Flight 
and  Young  Bill),  and  Bourbon  Chief,  the  sire  of  Bourbon  King 
and  Montgomery  Chief,  are  the  two  stallions  descended  through 
Harrison  Chief  from  Imp.  Messenger,  who  have  had  the  most 
far-reaching  influence  on  the  Saddle  Horse  of  today. 

Bourbon  King  is  the  sire  of  Astral  King,  Richlieu  King,  Roose- 
velt and  Bohemian  King,  who  are  world  famous.  Bourbon  Chief 
sires  Emily,  the  ^^'orld"s  Fair  champion,  who  is  now  in  her  twenty- 
eighth  year,  but  is  cared  for  as  tits  her  desserts  —  lives  knee 
deep  in  clover  and  blue  grass.  Emily  in  her  show  days  had  a 
world  of  action  at  the  trot,  which  conies  both  through  her  sire's 
sire,  Harrison  Chief,  and  through  John  J)illard  the  grand-sire  of 
Delia,  Emily's  dam.  Dillard  Dudley,  the  sire  of  Delia,  goes  back 
on  his  dam's  side  to  xlratus,  the  sire  of  Betsy  Harrison  who  was 
the  dam  of  Denmark. 

Bourbon  King  and  Montgomery  Chief  are  full  brothers,  both 
being  by  Bourbon  Chief  and  out  of  Annie  C.  iinnie  C.  is  by 
King;  thus  she  is  a  granddaughter  of  Harrison  Chief  on  her 
sire's  side.  Her  second  dam  was  sired  by  Kentucky  Chief  whose 
dam  Betty  was  by  War  Dance,  a  son  of  Lexington.  The  second 
dam  of  Kentucky  Chief  was  iSJ^ettie  by  Oceola,  and  he  was  a  son 
of  Imp.  Hedgeford  the  sire  of  Demnark,  so  it  can  easily  be  seen 
that  just  as  all  roads  lead  to  Rome,  all  Saddle  Horses  lead  to 
Denmark. 

The  question  that  most  often  confronts  the  present-day  breeder 
of  Saddle  Hors^es  is.  Have  we  improved  on  Gaines  Denmark  ?  The 
answer  has  been  handled  in  a  masterly  way  by  a  horseman  of  note 


The  Hokse  Inuustky  i^  New  Yoek  State 


The  American  Saddle  Horse 


53 


in  a  recent  horse  paper.  His  conclusion  carefully  lead  np  to  and 
logically  explained  is :  the  Saddle  Horse  of  today  is  an  improve- 
ment on  Gaines  Denmark  only  in  step.  This  is  due  to  careful, 
painstaking,  arithmetically  correct  breeding  by  selection ;  by  the 


Fig.  is.     Quicksilver  by  Boyd  Lynx,  Tracing  to  Grey  Eagle  ox  His 

Dam's  Side. 


judicious  infusion  of  the  blood  of  the  descendants  of  the  incom- 
parably beautiful  Imp.  Hedgeford,  and  of  the  descendants  of 
Imp.  Messenger  —  the  race  horse  with  the  unusual  trot  —  and  of 
Eclipse  —  the  race  horse  of  indomitable  courage  and  splendid 
bone  and  substance. 

So  much  for  the  derivation  of  the  American  Saddle  Horse. 


54 


The  Hokse  Industry  tn  New  York  State 


POINTS  OF  EXCELLENCE  AND  NOTABLE  HORSES 

The  points  of  excellence  of  the  American  Saddle  Horse  are,  that 
he  is  the  most  beautiful  horse  in  the  world,  tlie  most  intelligent, 
the  most  companionable,  the  most  versatile  and  the  most  useful. 
I  shall  not  go  into  a  list  of  horses  whose  names  are  household 
words  in  Kentucky,  but,  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  of  iSTew 


Fig.   19.     Gexeva  C.  by  Highlaxd  Denmark. 


York  State,  shall  mention  some  of  the  horses  that  have  made 
horse  show  history  within  its  borders :  Oriflamme  by  Black 
Squirrel,  champion  and  return  champion  at  the  Garden ;  Patsy 
McChord  by  Black  Squirrel,  champion  of  the  Garden ;  Fayette 
McChord  by  Chester  Dare  and  he  by  Black  Squirrel ;  Elsa  by 
Highland  Denmark  and  he  by  Black  Squirrel ;  Geneva  C.  by 
Highland  Denmark  and  he  by  Black  Squirrel ;  Mayo  by  Shrop- 
shire's Kentucky  Squirrel  and  he  by  Black  Squirrel ;  Petroleum 
by  Monte  Christo,  Jr.,  a  grandson  of  Montrose;  Corinne  by  Red 
Eagle,  a  grandson  of  Black  Squirrel ;  Dixie  by  King  Lee  Rose ; 


The  American  Saddle  Horse  55 

Flashlight  by  Eureka  Lad;  Poetry  of  Motion  by  Montrose;  The 
Cardinal  by  Forrest  Denmark;  Xickel  Plate  by  King  Lee  Rose; 
Margaret  Tate  by  Highland  Denmark;  Beechwold  Bab  by  a  son 
of  Highland  Denmark ;  Gossip  by  King  Chieftain  and  he  by 
Bonrbon  Chief.  On  her  dam's  side,  too,  Gossip  goes  back  to  Imp. 
Messenger,  for  she  is  a  great-granddanghter  of  Harrison  Chief. 

From  this  list,  dating  from  the  first  Madison  Square  Garden 
champion  to  the  present  day,  the  show  horses  that  are  most  firmly 
impressed  on  one's  memory  are  American  Saddle  Horses.  They 
have  a  uniformity  of  type,  beautiful  head,  eye  and  ear,  long  neck, 
oblique  shoulders,  sharp  withers,  short  back,  smooth  quarters  and 
the  best  of  legs  and  feet.  In  size  they  vary  scarcely  an  inch. 
From  Oriflamme  to  Gossip  the  height  is  from  fifteen  hands,  one 
and  one-half  inches,  to  fifteen  hands,  two  and  one-half  inches ; 
the  weight  from  a  thousand  pounds  to  a  thousand  and  fifty. 

UTILITY 

The  utility  of  the  American  Saddle  Horse  is  without  limit  —  to 
ride  for  pleasure,  in  the  show  ring,  to  drive  either  for  speed  or 
"  step,''  and  as  a  cavalry  mount. 

The  peerless  I'hlan  is  a  great-grandson  of  Black  Squirrel  on 
Lis  dam's  side.  Uhlan,  in  his  markings,  his  color,  his  conforma- 
tion, and  the  way  in  which  he  carries  his  tail,  is  the  ideal  Saddle 
Horse. 

A  daughter  of  Roosevelt  recently  made  a  record  of  2:16  on 
the  Lexington  Trotting  Track,  after  a  few  weeks'  work. 

CARE 

From  his  colthood  the  American  Saddle  Horse  is  associated 
daily  with  man.  He  is  taught  to  eat  grain  before  he  is  weaned. 
After  he  is  weaned,  during  severe  weather  he  is  fed  grain  daily. 
Receiving  the  greatest  care  and  daily  handling  from  man  develops, 
to  a  high  degree,  his  intelligence,  and,  having  no  fear  of  man,  he  is 
wonderfully  quick  to  learn.  Having  blue  grass  to  eat  and  pure 
running  limestonp  water  to  drink,  his  blood  is  pure  and  his  bone 
strong.  There  is  a  quality  either  in  the  soil  or  in  the  water,  or 
in  both,  which  is  of  incalculable  benefit  to  our  horses'  feet.   What- 


56  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

ever  the  reasons  may  he  it  is  a  fact  that  no  country  in  the  world 
SO  develops  a  horse  in  mind  and  body,  bone  and  endurance,  as 
this  Blue-Grass  country.  Proof  of  this  statement  is  found  in  the 
fact  that  seventy  per  cent  of  the  g:reat  horses  in  this  country  — 
runners,  trotters,  and  saddle  horses  —  are  reared  within  a  radius 
of  thirty  miles  of  Lexington,  the  capital  of  the  Blue  Grass. 


THE  HUNTER* 

Frank  Sherman  Peer,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 
Author  of  Soiling,  Ensilage  and  Stable  Construction 

Leave  us  the  chase,  A\liere,  in  harmony  blending, 

Men  of  all  classes  ride  on  to  the  end, 
Men  become  brothers,  each  brotlier  contending; 

Every  true  sijortsman   is  coimted  a  friend. 

HIS   CONFORMATION 

A  hunting  man  is  apt  to  have  rather  fixed  notions  as  to  how  a 
hunter  should  be  built.  His  ideal  is  generally  the  likeness  of 
some  good,  faithful  beast  that  has  carried  him  with  the  greatest 
ease  and  safety ;  which  is  only  another  way  of  saying  that  a  good 
hunter,  whatever  he  is  like,  however  he  is  formed,  however  he  is 
bred,  whatever  his  color,  if  he  suits  and  fits  us,  is  not  a  bad  horse. 

There  are  some  points  in  the  conformation  of  a  hunter  that  can 
hardly  be  ignored.  Some  general  rules,  mostly  with  numerous 
exceptions,  it  will  be  well  to  keep  in  mind  when  passing  judgment 
on  a  horse  for  cross-country  work. 

brains  AND  INTELLIGENCE 

A  large  brainy  head  with  a  broad  forehead  and  mild  outstand- 
ing eyes,  is,  as  far  as  my  experience  goes,  one  of  the  points  to 
insist  upon.  Some  horses  with  a  thimbleful  of  brains  are  made 
to  hunt,  but  without  sufficient  intelligence  to  go  with  judgment 
as  well  as  courage.  One  w^ho  possesses  mere  valor  can  never 
attain  more  than  a  moderate  degree  of  proficiency. 

Some  fools  of  horses  may  be  driven  through  a  run,  but  they 
do  not  enjoy  it ;  they  are  simply  slaves.  Deliver  me  from  keeping 
company  with  such  a  one  in  the  hunting  field !  Hunting  is,  or 
should  be,  a  partnership  game,  in  which  you  and  your  friend  the 
horse  go  out  for  a  day's  sport.  The  more  intelligent  the  horse, 
the  more  level-headed,  the  more  capable  he  is  of  entering  into 
the  spirit  of  the  game,  and  of  enjoying  the  day's  run  as  well  as 
his  master.     Tt  must  be  remembered,  however,  that,  besides  size 


*  Extracts   (by  permission  of  the  author)    from  Cross  Country  tcitli  Horse 
<md  Hound,  by  F.  S.  Peer. 

[57] 


The  lloESE  Industry  in  New  York  S 


TATE 


of  brain,  quality  also  should  be  looked  for.  There  are  big  bass- 
wood-headed  horses,  and  there  are  small  hickory-headed  horses. 
Quantity  must  not  be  confounded  with  quality.  Some  brainy 
horses  have  from  past  bad  management  had  their  nerves  shattered, 
so  to  speak,  and  what  brains  they  have  are  a  damage  to  them.  On 
this  point  a  study  of  physiognomy  is  a  help. 

Ti'ere  are  many  rattle-headed,  nervous,  high-strung  horses  that 
make  good  jumpers,  but  not  every  good  fencer  is,  by  that  same 
token,  a  good  hunter.  Almost  anything  in  the  shape  of  a  horse 
can  pull  a  harrow  or  go  in  harness,  but  for  cross-country  work 
a  horse  must  possess  the  very  highest  qualities  and  the  sum  total 
of  all  the  virtues  of  the  equine  race.  He  should  possess  the 
courage  that  stops  just  short  of  recklessness,  great  nervous  force 
with  coolness,  great  energy  with  judgment,  light-heartedness  with- 
out foolishness,  staying  qualities  of  the  best,  good  breeding,  perfect 
manners.  These  are  the  qualifications  of  a  high-class  cross- 
coimtry  horse.  These  are  also  the  qualifications  of  a  high-class 
cross-country  rider.  If  they  are  to  be  omitted  from  either,  the 
horse  should  not  be  made  the  one  to  suffer,  for  he  has  to  look  out 
for  himself  and  the  rider  as  well.  Besides  all  this,  the  horse  must 
have  suitable  conformation  for  the  work,  be  a  good  feeder,  and 
sound. 

RIDER    SHOULD    FIT    THE    HORSE 

One  can  hardly  hope  to  find  so  many  qualifications  in  a  single 
animal,  but  if  a  horse  that  approaches  this  standard  is  found,  for- 
give his  shortcomings  and  be  consoled  with  the  reflection  that  if 
he  is  not  as  good  as  he  should  be,  he  might  have  been  worse. 
Eemember  this,  too,  that  it  is  the  part  of  horsemanship  to  fit  the 
rider  to  the  horse  rather  than  to  try  to  make  the  horse  fit  the 
rider.  The  gTeatest  and  best  thing  of  all  is  to  find  in  a  horse  an 
agreeable  companion.  A  man  will  get  on  better  with  an  old  farm 
horse  that  fits  him  than  with  a  two-thousand-dollar  qualified 
hunter  that  does  not. 

ADAPTABILITY  TO   HUNTING 

I  have  heard  some  men  declare  that  no  horse  likes  hunting.  I 
am  positive  this  is  a  mistake.  No  horse  would  like  huntino-  with 
some  men,  but  most  horses  with  the  proper  conformatio'n  for 
saddle  work  do  enjoy  hunting  when  they  are  properly  ridden.     I 


TuE  Hunter 


59 


have  seen  and  schooled  many  green  horses  that  from  weanlings 
took  readily  to  jumping,  and  several  that  when  turned  into  a 
runway  would  jump  back  and  forth  over  the  hurdles  of  their  own 
accord.  I  have  had  several  green  horses  that,  as  soon  as  mounted, 
w-ould  of  their  own  accord  start  away  to  the  schooling-gTound. 
Of  some  of  these  it  has  been  hard  to  say  whether  they  enjoy  the 
sport  or  not  until  they  met  hounds,  and  then  they  were  as  am- 


♦ 


'■"^Pftt- 


P 


Fig.  20.     Ready  for  a  Ckuss-Country  Eun. 

bitious  to  get  on  with  them  as  the  rider,  and  not  from  excitement 
or  fear,  as  one  could  tell  by  the  collected  way  in  which  they 
jumped,  l:)ut  from  sheer  love  of  the  sport.  At  a  check  other 
horses  could  come  and  go,  but  directly  hounds  moved  they  were 
off.  I  am  speaking  now  of  green  horses.  To  some  horses  hunting 
is  an  irksome  task  that  never  becomes  anything  but  work  or 


60  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

drudgery;  yet  1  believe  that  a  large  number  of  well-bred  horses, 
providing,  mind  you,  they  are  not  punished  at  their  jumps  by 
severe  hands  or  spurs,  really  enjoy  the  sport.  It  also  goes  with- 
out saying  that  there  must  be  a  great  difference  between  a  horse 
that  has  his  heart  in  the  sport  and  goes  at  it  like  a  schoolboy  from 
his  books,  and  one  that  has  only  a  poor  gizzard  for  the  work. 

NECK  AND   CAEKIAGE   OF   HEAD 

Horses  with  short,  thick  necks  do  not  make  good  hunters.  I 
do  not  know  of  any  exception  to  this  rule.  They  are  not  easily 
brought  to  hand ;  they  invariably  rein  badly,  and  are  apt  to  have 
hard,  unyielding  mouths.  Avoid  also  a  horse  that  carries  a  high 
head.  This  is  another  rule  withovit  an  exception.  The  head  of  a 
hunter  is  quite  high  enough  when  his  eyes  are  on  a  line  with 
the  height  of  his  withers.  This  low  carriage  of  a  hunter's  head 
is  very  important,  and  for  several  reasons:  (1)  It  enables  the 
rider  to  lean  well  forward  as  his  mount  begins  to  spring  at  a 
jump  and  still  have  room  for  the  horse  to  throw  up  his  head  with 
freedom  in  the  natural  act  of  jumping,  without  hitting  the  rider 
in  the  face.  (2)  High-headed  horses  must  be  ridden  with  a 
shorter  rein  than  horses  with  their  necks  straight.  This  is  an 
objectionable  feature,  because  the  longer  the  rein  the  better  and 
easier  the  control.  (3)  When  a  high-headed  horse  is  ridden  at  a 
jump,  especially  if  he  pulls  and  his  head  comes  higher  than  its 
natural  carriage,  the  animal  is  in  a  most  awkward  position  to 
take  his  fence.  He  does  so  at  the  expense  of  an  unnecessary 
amount  of  exertion,  while  the  rider's  control  of  his  mount  is  gone. 

Horses  with  very  slim  necks  generally  bend  them  too  easily. 
Nothing  is  more  annoying  than  a  horse  that  turns  only  his  head 
in  ans^\'er  to  a  pull  on  the  reins  while  his  body  goes  straight  on. 

T  ha\'e  dwelt  upon  this  point  because  it  is  one  seldom,  if  ever, 
mentioned  by  writers,  and  because  we  hear  so  much  nowadays 
about  having  ^'  plenty  of  horse  in  front  of  you."  So  there  should 
be ;  but  look  well  to  the  substance  of  a  hunter's  neck.  "  There  is 
ain  thing  aboot  a  hunter  a  canna  forgie,"  said  a  keen  hunting 
friend  of  mine  in  Scotland,  ''  and  that  is  a  neck  with  na  strach 
in  it !  "  The  neck  can  hardly  be  too  long  unless  too  thin ;  it  can 
hardly  be  too  low  unless  too  short  and  thick,  and  of  two  evils 


The  Hunter  61 

better  a  horse  that  bores  than  a  horse  that  soars.  You  sometimes 
see  in  a  dealer's  stables  these  up-headed  horses.  They  are  gen- 
erally clean  trotting-bred  animals  that  have  had  their  manes 
pulled  and  their  tails  chopped  off,  and  these  are  their  principal 
qualifications  as  hunters.  Some  of  them  can  jump,  and  we  have 
seen  this  sort  win  at  Madison  Square  when  conformation  counted 
fifty  or  sixty  per  cent.  To  an  experienced  cross-country  rider, 
however,  they  look  sadly  out  of  form. 

SHOULDERS 

"  Slanting  shoulders  "  is  everywhere  the  cry.  Every  author  I 
have  read,  and  nearly  every  man  that  rides  to  hounds,  if  he 
hardly  knows  the  fetlock  from  the  forelock,  will  tell  you  a  horse 
is  no  good  for  hunting  without  slanting  shoulders.  So  universal 
has  this  cry  become  that  it  suggests  the  parrot.  "  Slanting 
shoulders !  Look  at  his  slanting  shoulders !  "  But  when  you  ask 
a  man  why  he  is  so  fond  of  slanting  shoulders,  the  usual  answer 
is :  "  Weil,  because  a  hunter  should  have  slanting  shoulders !  " 
Occasionally  a  man  will  venture  to  say  a  horse  with  slanting 
shoulders  can  gallop  faster.  This  is  manifestly  incorrect.  Some 
of  the  fastest  horses  that  have  ever  turned  a  track  have  had  rather 
upright  and  sometimes  even  loaded  shoulders. 

We  must  look  further  than  simply  the  slant  of  a  hunter's 
shoulders.  I  am  sorry  to  antagonize  this  most  common  belief  in 
slanting  shoulders;  one  dislikes  to  sow  seeds  of  discord  among 
pet  theories.  But  this  slanting-shoulder  craze  has  gone  beyond 
all  reason. 

POSITION   OF   EIDER 

Let  us  see  if  we  cannot  find  a  better  reason  than  because,  or 
speed,  or  jumping  qualities.  Let  us  see  if  we  cannot  set  up  a 
hypothesis  that  will  stand  more  of  an  assault  than  the  present 
theories  for  slanting  shoulders.  A  little  reflection  will  prove  that 
the  proper  position  of  a  saddle  on  a  horse  for  cross-country  work, 
where  there  is  jumping  to  be  done,  is  one  that  places  the  rider 
well  back  so  that  his  weight  comes  as  near  the  center  of  gravity 
as  possible.  Flat  racing  and  cross-country  riding  are  things  of 
entirely    different   color.      The    forward   seat,    over    the    horse's 


62  The  Horse  Tnj)ustry  in  New  Yokk  State 

shoulder, —  a  seat,  in  fact,  where  the  position  of  a  jockey  lying 
along  the  neck  of  his  monnt  brings  the  rider's  center  of  gravity 
well  over,  if  not  forward  of,  the  fore  legs  of  his  monnt, —  has  been 
demonstrated  beyo-nd  question  to  be  the  very  best  position  under 
which  a  horse  on  the  flat  can  extend  himself.  Doubtless  a  horse 
with  the  weight  on  the  shoulders  makes  the  lift  of  the  weight 
with  a  spring  of  the  forelegs,  which  leaves  the  hind  legs  and 
quarters  to  do  the  propelling  with  the  least  possible  hindrance. 
On  the  other  hand,  while  a  horse  may  be  ridden  with  the  center 
of  gravity  over  his  fore  legs,  across  a  field,  it  is  obvious  that  in 
taking  a  fence  the  best,  the  easiest,  the  most  secure  position  of  the 
rider  must  be  well  back. 

The  position  of  a  boy  on  a  rocking-horse,  or  a  person  in  a  rock- 
ing-chair, best  illustrates  my  meaning.  When  the  center  of 
gravity  on  either  the  w^ooden  rocking-horse  or  rocking-chair  is 
forward  of  the  center,  the  motion  is  labored  and  all  in  one 
direction.  If  a  person  sits  too  far  forward  in  a  rocking-chair,  the 
forward  rock  corresponds  to  the  landing  side  of  a  jump,  and 
assists  greatly  in  producing  a  spill.  Seated  too  far  back,  one 
cannot  make  the  rocker  go  forward  without  an  undue  exertion. 
This  illustrates  the  taking-off  position  of  a  jump :  the  horse,  like 
the  person  in  the  rocker,  must  make  an  unusual  effort  to  carry 
the  rider  forward.  This  is  so  plain  and  simple  a  condition  that  it 
seems  almost  absurd  to  mention  it.  However,  it  best  illustrates 
the  point  under  discussion. 

The  theory  of  slanting  shoulders  is  that  they  usually  (but  not 
always)  have  the  effect  of  keeping  the  saddle  well  back, 'so  that  the 
rider  does  sit  nearly  at  the  center  of  gravity  of  his  mount.  This 
he  is  able  to  maintain,  when  the  horse  is  jumping,  by  simply  lean- 
ing well  forward  as  the  animal  rises  to  the  obstacle,  sitting  up- 
right when  over  the  center,  and  leaning  well  back  as  the  animal 
descends.  So  far,  I  venture  to  say,  the  majority  of  my  readers 
will  agree.  But,  I  ask,  what  is  the  value  of  slanting  shoulders 
when,  as  sometimes  happens,  a  horse  is  low  in  the  withers,  letting 
the  saddle  well  forward^  It  is  evident  that,  for  keeping  the 
rider  back  near  the  center  of  gravity,  high,  sloping  withers  have 
quite  as  much  virtue  as  slanting  shoulders,  for  a  horse  may  have 
the  latter  without  the  former. 


The  Hunter  63 

Personally,  I  prefer  a  rather  straight  shoulder-blade,  with  high, 
full,  sloping  withers,  to  the  most  slanting  shoulder-blade  with  low 
withers  that  lets  the  saddle  forward  on  the  shoulders.  It  is  not 
enough  to  go  strong  on  slanting  shoulders,  when  it  is  quite  as  much 
a  question  of  the  conformation  of  the  withers,  and  more  a  ques- 
tion of  the  setting  on  of  the  fore  legs.  That  many  men  confound 
withers  and  shoulders  there  can  be  little  doubt.  Nor  is  this  all ; 
if  a  horse,  as  is  quite  often  the  case,  has  slanting  shoulders,  and 
also  a  long  oblique  true  arm  that  brings  the  setting  on  of  the 
fore  legs  well  back,  you  have  lost  at  this  point  all  you  have  gained 
by  the  slanting  shoulders.  In  other  words,  when  you  have  a  slant- 
ing shoulder  with  a  long  oblique  true  arm,  it  may  bring  the  fore 
legs  so  far  back  that  the  center  of  gravity  has  practically  been 
moved  ahead.  So  far,  therefore,  as  gravity  is  concerned,  you 
might  just  as  well  have  either  a  straight  shoulder  with  high,  full 
withers,  or  a  straight  shoulder  with  a  short  upright  and  true  arm. 
Or,  again,  if  you  have  a  slanting  shoulder  with  a  long  oblique 
true  arm,  or  a  slanting  shoulder  with  low  withers,  the  end  in 
view  has  been  defeated. 

I  have  dwelt  on  this  at  length  because  slanting  shoulders  are 
everywhere  so  much  in  favor,  as  if  they  were  the  alpha  and  omega 
of  a  hunter's  conformation. 

The  reason  why  ladies  in  riding  cross  country  to  hounds  are  so 
uniformly  successful  in  negotiating  fences  without  falls  is  owing 
undoubtedly  to  their  sitting  sideways  on  the  horse ;  that  is  to  say, 
the  center  of  gravity  of  the  rider  is  more  generally  brought  over 
the  center  of  gravity  of  the  horse  than  in  the  case  of  men,  who, 
riding  astride,  sit  more  forward,  especially  if  they  ride  with  long 

stirrups. 

HIPS 

As  for  hips,  do  not  turn  your  back  on  a  horse  with  ragged  hips 
and  a  sloping  rump.  They  are  not  pretty  or  s^nnmetrical,  but 
if  they  carry  the  muscle  well  down  to  the  hocks,  you  generally 
find  tiiat  such  a  horse  can  gather  his  legs  well  under  him  for  a 
spring.  This  is  one  of  the  cliief  characteristics  of  the  Irish 
hunter,  and  for  fencing  he  has  no  equal. 


64  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  Yokk  State 

LEGS 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  mention  legs,  those  necessary  auxiliaries 
of  a  horse.  Plenty  of  bone  and  especially  large  knee  and  hock 
joints  are  most  desirable.  Pasterns  on  the  long  side  for  choice, 
and  plenty  of  room  between  elbow-joint  and  body,  are  desirable. 
Do  not  be  over  particular  about  splints  or  even  curbs.  The  former 
are  found  on  three-  and  four-year-olds  more  often  than  in  horses 
of  six  and  seven  years.  They  usually  disappear  by  absoi-ption. 
That  a  young  horse  has  them  is  as  much  to  his  credit  as  it  is  for 
a  child  to  have  the  measles  or  chicken-pox. 

Splints,  and  curbs  too,  lame  horses  sometimes  when  they  first 
appear.  Do  not  condemn  a  horse  with  sickle  hocks  if  there  is 
plenty  of  bone.  They  are  very  often  found  on  the  most  powerful 
jumpers. 

BACK 

Do  not  require  a  hunter  to  be  too  short-coupled.  This  is 
another  threadbare  sign  that  is  ahvays  quoted  as  desirable.  If  a 
horse  is  to  gallop  he  must  have  length  somewhere.  If  he  has  a 
short  top  line  or  coupling,  he  must  have  length  underneath  or  he 
cannot  stride  away.  There  must  be  room  to  get  the  stifles  forward, 
or  you  will  have  a  short  choppy-gaited  horse,  and  a  most  uncom- 
fortable one.  The  short  back  is  w^ell  enough  theoretically,  but 
not  in  practice.  Three  and  even  four  inches  between  the  last  rib 
and  hip  are  not  too  much,  unless  the  horse  has  a  weak  loin.  A 
light,  slack  loin  is  to  be  avoided  in  a  horse,  whether  his  back  be 
long  or  short. 

PROPORTIONS 

A  horse  is  usually  as  long  in  the  body  as  he  is  high  from  the 
ground  to  the  top .  of  the  withers.  In  many  Standardbred  trotters 
and  in  some  Thoroughbi-eds  length  exceeds  height.  This  propor- 
tion is-  also  desirable  in  a  hunter. 

A  well-formed  horse  usually  measures  as  far  from  the  top  of 
the  withers  to  the  under  side  of  the  body  just  back  of  the  fore 
legs  as  he  does  from  that  point  to  the  ground.  If  there  is  any 
difference  in  this  measurement,  let  it  be  added  to  the  body,  not 
to  the  legs.  A  sixteen-and-one  body,  both  in  height  and  length, 
on  fifteen-three  legs  is  far  preferable  to  the  reverse. 


The  Hunter  65 

A  hunter,  to  be  comfortable,  should  not  unduly  spread  the 
legs  of  his  rider  bv  being  too  wide  through  the  heart.  However, 
the  other  extreme  is  equally  bad,  for  there  nnist  be  lung  capacity; 
and  whatever  a  horse  lacks  in  breadth  through  the  heart  he  should 
make  up  in  depth ;  the  deeper  the  better.  The  round-backed  and 
rliiek-hearted  horses  so  desirable  in  harness  are  not  to  be  consid- 
orod  for  a  moment  for  saddle  work,  especially  if  they  have,  and 
is  usually  the  case,  low  withers.  When  you  have  had  a  saddle 
turn  with  you  once  or  twice,  you  will,  like  the  writer,  have  learned 
this  lesson  by  heart.  Broad-chested  horses  are  very  apt  to  roll  in 
their  gait. 

SIZE 

For  size,  the  question  depends  somewhat  on  the  country  to  be 
liunted.  A  rough  country  re(iuires  a  smaller  or  shorter-legged 
horse  than  a  country  which  is  flat,  ^ly  own  experience  is  that  a 
horse  from  tifteen-two-and-a-half  to  fifteen-three  is  invariably  the 
best  in  jumping  and  staying  ([ualities.  To  a  man  on  a  horse  of 
sixteen  hands  the  fences  do  not  look  so  high,  but  this  is  of  slight 
advantage  when  other  aspects  of  the  problem  are  considered. 
The  truth  is,  there  seems  to  be  just  about  so  much  force  or  en- 
durance in  a  horse,  and  this  lessens  as  you  spread  it  over  more 
than  the  natural  size  of  the  family  to  which  the  horse  belongs. 
Increased  size  invariably  brings  coarseness,  putting  the  animal, 
so  to  speak,  out  of  balance  with  himself. 

DISPOSITIOlSr 

As  to  disposition,  the  best  in  the  world  is  none  too  good.  A 
man  may  have  ridden  all  sorts  of  horses  and  first-class  jumpers, 
but  if  he  has  never  found  a  partner  with  intelligence  enough  to 
enjoy  the  sport  as  well  as  he  himself  does,  he  has  yet  to  enjoy  one 
of  the  principal  delights  of  a  day  with  hounds.  Such  horses  are 
not  plentiful.  When  a  man  finds  one,  he  will  probably  regret  it 
as  long  as  he  lives  if  he  parts  with  him.  Out  of  a  hundred  hunters 
you  can  probably  count  the  genuine  sportsmen,  the  genuine  hunt- 
ers, on  the  fingers  of  one  hand.  Tn  this  respect  the  Irish  hunters 
outclass  all  others.  They  are  like  the  people  who  breed  them, 
always  ready  for  a  lark,  yet  having  the  keenest  instinct  for  self- 
preservation.  They  are  light-hearted  to  a  degree,  and  nothing 
5 


66  The  IIohsk  iNnrsTRV  in   Xkw  Yok'k  State 

suits  them  better  than  to  liave  a  liiii'lv-l)url_v  rou^ii-and-tiimble 
scurrv  across  eoimtrv.  They  arc  just  reckless  and  bold  enough 
for  such  a  game,  and  when  nioutlied  and  educated  as  only  Irish 
hunters  are,  they  will  give  you  a  day's  hunting  to  he  remem- 
bered as  long  as  you  live,  I  have  seen  them  so  joyous  at  the 
sight  of  hounds  as  fairly  to  squeal  with  delight,  jumping  and 
playing  from  sheer  effervescence  of  light-heartedness.  Such  a 
one  is  the  horse  for  a  companion,  the  horse  for  a  partner  in  a 
day's  sport.  A  genuine  sportsman  himself,  he  will  pull  you 
through.     His  heart  as  well  as  yours  is  in  the  game. 

SUITABILITY  TO   KIDER 

There  remains  the  final  test  of  what  may  be  called  "  the  per- 
sonal equation."  If  he  fails  to  pass  this,  reject  him  on  the  spot. 
You  may  be  surprised  to  find  your  supposed  ideal  hunter  not  at 
all  to  your  liking.  He  does  not  fit  you,  and  you  cannot  seem  to 
make  yourself  fit  him.  You  feel  uncomfortable  on  him,  just  as 
you  would  on  a  rocking-horse  or  a  rocking-chair  that  pitched  you 
too  freely  forward  or  backward.  Seated  on  a  horse  that  feels 
comfortable  under  you  in  all  his  paces,  yiMi  have  found  the  horse 
for  you.  Look  no  further:  let  size,  color,  markings,  or  conforma- 
tion be  what  they  may.  You  will  be  surprised,  in  trying  twenty 
fine-looking  horses,  to  find,  perhaps,  that  only  four  or  five  seem 
to  fit  you.  A  personal  trial  is  the  supreme  test  of  excellence  in 
a  hunter. 


THE  SHETLAND   PONY 

Julia  M.  Wade,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Secretary-Treasurer,  American   Shetlanrl   Pony   Club 
ORIGIN 

The  origin  of  the  "  right  Shetland  " —  as  a  Shetlander  calls  a 
pure-bred  —  is  iiiiknowii,  but  the  story  is  told  that  sometime  in 
the  sixteenth  century  some  ships  of  the  Spanish  Armada  went 
ashore  on  the  islands  leaving  some  fine  horses  belonging  to  the 
Admiral's  Stud.  This  cross,  it  is  claimed,  gave  to  the  Shetland 
much  of  its  beauty  and  fleetness. 

CirARACTERISTICR 

By  nature  the  Shetland  has  a  remarkably  good  temperment, 
a  fact  probably  due  to  conditions  in  his  native  home,  where  he  is 
often  about,  or  even  in,  the  house  or  hut  of  his  owner;  or  running 
about  with  the  children  or  house  dog. 

He  is  a  good  traveler,  patient,  gentle  and  sure-footed  as  he 
travels  up  and  down  miles  of  hills,  carrying  half  his  own  weight 
or  more.  The  year  around  he  I'uus  over  the  hills,  living,  in  many 
cases,  only  on  heather  and  whatever  grass  he  may  find.  Very 
little  hay  or  grain,  if  any,  is  fed  during  the  long  cold  winters. 

The  mares  seldom  breed  oftener  than  every  alternate  year,  but 
are  good  breeders  to  an  advanced  age. 

A  pure-bred  Shetland  should  measure  not  more  than  42  inches. 
He  has  a  symmetrical  head,  rather  small  and  fine,  wide  between 
eyes  which  are  clear ;  ears  are  short  and  erect.  He  has  a  well- 
rounded  barrel ;  short  level  back,  and  deep  chest ;  muscular,  flat- 
boned  legs,  and  carries  a  heavy  foretop,  mane  and  tail. 

IMPORTATIONS 

The  first  Shetlands  imported  for  breeding  purposes  were 
brought  into  the  United  States  in  the  early  eighties,  and  during 
the  succeeding  ten  years  the  little  animals  became  so  popular  that 
their  owners  organized  a  club  for  the  purpose  of  improving 
the  breed.  Since  this  American  Shetland  Pony  Club  was  organ- 
ized about  five  hundred  owners  and  breeders  have  become  mem- 
bers, and  over  sixteen  thousand  ponies  have  been  registered  in 
the  recognized  studbook  of  the  club. 

[67] 


THE  WELSH  PONY 

Julia  M.  Wade,  Lafayette,  Iiid. 

ORIGIN 

Li  letters  to  a  friend,  afterwards  printed,  ^Irs.  Olive  Tilford 
Dargen,  who  lias  made  an  exliaiistive  study  of  the  Welsh  pony, 
writes,  regarding  their  origin,  that  they  were  probably  results 
of  a  cross  between  the  descendants  of  a  species  which  Professor 
James  Corsar  Ewart  has  named  the  Pony  Celticus,  which  once 
overspread  Western  Europe,  and  the  military  animals  of  the 
J^omans,  which  in  general  were  Gallic;  that  for  four  hundred 
years  the  acclimated  Arabian  blood  crept  up  the  hills  and  among 
the  wildest  herds  —  a  slow  infusion  that  left  the  pony  still  a  pou^y^ 
retaining  all  the  hardihood  that  made  life  possible  on  the  scanty- 
herbaged  peaks. 

Later  the  Welsh  exchanged  horses  with  the  Celts,  and  ''  the 
once  noted  Irish  hobble  w^as  often  brought  into  Wales." 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  breeders  of  the  eighteenth  century  im- 
proved couditions.  "  Merlin,  a  descendent  of  the  Byerly  Turk, 
after  his  brilliant  years  on  the  turf,  was  brought  to  Wales  and 
turned  out  with  the  ponies  on  the  Ruabon  hills  to  become  the 
founder  of  a  famous  and  prolific  line." 

RECENT    HISTORY 

In  1900  The  Welsh  Pony  and  Cob  Society  was  organized. 
King  George  became  a  patron.  Lord  Tredegar  was  made  first 
president  of  the  society  which  represented  all  the  Shires  of  Wales 
and  the  counties  of  Monmouth,  Shropshire  and  Hereford.  As 
a  result  of  this  influence,  parliament  enacted  certain  laws  bene- 
ficial to  the  breed.  Committees  were  appo-inted  with  power  to 
pass  on  stallions  and  clear  the  commons  of  all  undesirables.  Tn 
Longmynd  Eange  it  has  been  the  custom  for^he  last  twenty-five 
years  to  have  an  annual  drive  and  round-up,  when  all  the  ponies 
are  brought  down,  selected,  sorted,  the  undesirables  cast  out,  and 
the  others,  excepting  those  picked  for  market  or  exchanged  for 
ponies  of  another  run,  sent  back  to  freedom. 

[68] 


The  Welsh  Pony  69 

developme^■ts  ix  the  united  states 
First  importations  of  Welsh  ponies  were  made  into  the  United 
States  between  1880  and  1885.     The  increasing  interest  of  ad- 
mirers caused  the  subsequent  organization  of  the  Welsh  Pony  and 
Cob  Society  of  America. 

In  the  meantime  Congress  enacted  a  law  which  went  into  effect 
January  1,  1911,  by  which  animals  considered  pure  bred  and 
imported  for  breeding  purposes  were  admitted  through  our  ports 
free  of  duty. 

Then  followed  the  recognition  by  our  country  of  the  Welsh 
pony  as  a  pure-bred. 

CHARACTERISTICS 

Having  for  a  foundation  the  indestructible  material  of  the 
mountain  pony,  these  little  animals  will  do  more  work  for  their 
weight  than  any  other  breed  of  horses,  and  thrive  on  half  the  food. 

They  are  strong,  well  built,  have  much  courage  and  v.-ondcrful 
endurance,  requiring  no  housing  or  blanketing;  a  prolific  breed 
transmitting  to  their  descendants  their  many  desirable  qualities 
with  marked  regularity. 

APPEARANCE 

The  true  Welsh  pony  has  a  refined  head,  large  intelligent  eyes, 
dainty  ears,  graceful  neck,  strong  full  body,  clean  straight  legs 
with  bone  like  steel.  The  reciuired  height  is  from  eleven  to  thir- 
teen hands. 

ACTION     AND    TEMPERAMENT 

These  ponies  have  a  graceful  action,  quick,  free,  straight,  and 
-  showing  finish. 

Without  sacrificing  any  of  their  qualities  of  intelligence  or 
spirit,  the  Welsh  pony  is  of  docile  nature  and  has  manners  re- 
markably perfect.  His  cheerful  friendliness  makes  him  an  ideal 
companion  for  growing  girls  and  boys,  as  a  medium  to  health, 
strength  and  happiness. 


70 


TiiE  House   I.ndl.stkv  ix  A'ew  \<niK  State 


§  &  I 

O  M  ^ 

H  PS  &:; 

CO  H  . 

O  2 


THE  DRAFT  BREEDS  OF  FRANCE 

E.  IS.  Akix,  Syracuse,  X.  Y. 

President,  New  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders'  Club 

France  has  several  distinct  breeds  and 
types  of  heavy  horses  which  are  bred  in 
different  districts  or  departments.  These 
different  breeds  or  families  of  draft 
horses  are  not  bred  in  all  parts  of  France, 
but  only  in  a  few  widely  separated  small 
districts.  It  is  probably  true  that  all  of 
the  heavy  breeds  of  France  had  a  com- 
mon origin,  and.  when  first  introduced 
in  the  United  States,  were  not  so  distinct 
in  breeding,  type,  size,  etc.,  as  they  are 
at  the  present  time. 

In  the  early  days  all  of  the  horses  were  imported  under  the 
name  of  i^orman,  and,  from  the  strife  over  admitting  all  heavy 
breeds  to  registry  as  Xormans,  between  the  principal  importers 
of  1870  and  1880  and  those  favoring  only  the  Percheron 
horse,  has  been  evolved  the  General  Draft  Horse  Stud  Book  of 
France,  and  the  present  National  Register  of  French  Draft 
Horses  of  this  country,  which  admit  for  registry  all  heavy  French 
breeds  including  Percherons. 

The  Society  Hippi<iue  Percheron  of  France,  and  the  Percheron 
Society  of  America,  records  only  horses  bred  in  the  Perche  dis- 
trict, or  their  produce. 

A,t  the  government  horse  show  held  at  Paris,  June  17-21,  191-4, 
under  direction  of  the  ^linister  of  Agriculture,  the  draft  breeds 
of  France  were  classified  as  follows:  Ardennais,  Boulonnais, 
Bretou,  Xivernais,  and  Percheron.  Wliile  it  may  be  true  that 
all  of  these  breeds  have  not  been  kept  pure  and  distinct,  I  can 
see  in  the  past  thirty  years  a  very  successful  effort  by  the  breeders, 
encouraged  by  the  government,  to  establish  and  improve  the  char- 
acter and  type  of  each  of  the  French  breeds. 

[71] 


72 


The  Horse  iNDrsiKv  ik  A'kw  York  Stati 


I'lIK    BKKTO.\ 

These  horses  are  bred  principally  in  the  Finistere  and  Coles 
du  Nord  districts,  the  most  eastern  department  of  France.  The 
Breton  horses  are  manv  colors:  chestnnt,  bay,  i-oan,  gray,  and 
black  with  some  white  markings.  They  average  in  weight  be- 
tween ],;300  and  1,500  ponnds,  and  the  average  height  is  from  ir. 
to  IG  hands.  They  are  smooth  and  active.  They  conld  l)e  called 
more  of  the  general  pnrpose  than  the  draft  type,  and,  like  all  of 
the  other  French  horses,  are  clean  and  free  from  hair  or  feathers 
on  the  legs. 

THE    ARDEXNAIS 

The  Axdennais  is  the  smaller  type  of  Belgian  horse  bred  in 
southern  Belgium  and  in  northern  France,  principally  in  the 
provinces  of  Nord,  Ardennes,  and  lleurthe  et  Moselle.  They  are 
not  so  large  as  some  of  the  other  French  breeds,  but  are  of  the 
deep-bodied,  short-backed  Belgian  type  and  quality.     The  Arden- 


FiG.  22      Peize  Collection  of  Ardenxais   Mares  Owned  uv 
M.  (tAbet  and  Tamboise,  Pakis  Show,  June,  1914. 

{Photo  by  E.  S.  Akin,  Syracuse,   N.   Y.) 

nais  country  wliere  these  horses  are  bred  and  used  is  poor  and 
mountainous;  a  country  where  a  draft  horse  of  medium  size,  verv 
active  and  of  great  endurance,  is  needed.  Of  ;,11  the  Europeiiu 
draft  breeds  I  believe  the  Ardennais  horse  Avould  be  especially 


The  Ukaft  Breeds  of  Fkaivce  73 

adapted  to  the  agTicultural  conditiuns  in  our  Aevv  England  states. 
Some  Axdennais  horses  liave  been  imported  to  this  country  as 
Belgians,  as  they  are  recorded  in  the  Belgian  Draft  Stndbook. 
The  colors  are  principally  chestnut,  bay  and  roan,  with  some 
white  markings.  Their  height  ranges  from  15  to  16  hands  and 
their  weight  from  1,400  to  1,700  pounds. 

THE  BorLo:v:?^Ais 
Boulonnais  horses  are  bred  in' the  department  of  Pas  de  Calais, 
a  district  in  northern  France  just  across  the  channel  from  Eng- 
land. The  French  government  recognizes  the  Boulonnais  as  a  pure 
lired,  and  they  are  considered  in  France  as  next  in  importance 
to  the  Percheron.  The  Boulonnais  are  fully  as  large  as  the 
Percheron,  with  exceptionally  good  bone,  and  are  very  even  as 
to  type,  size,  and  color.  The  color  is  mostly  light  gray  with  slight 
traces  of  dapple.  Their  height  ranges  from  16  to  16%  hands  and 
their  weight  from  1,700  to  2,000  pounds. 

THE   NIVEKNAIS 

Nivernais  horses  are  bred  in  the  department  of  Xievre  in 
central  France,  a  district  especially  noted  for  its  Xievernaise 
cattle  —  a  pure  breed  of  white  beef  cattle  unknown  in  this  coun- 
try. The  Nivernais  horses  are  perhaps  a  trifle  more  rangy  than 
the  Percheron,  not  quite  so  deep  in  the  flank,  but  with  a  level  top- 
line,  and  wide,  flat,  clean  bone.  This  breed  is  all  black,  and  is 
little  known  in  this  country  except  indirectly  as  they  were  used  in 
changing  the  color  of  the  Percheron  horse  in  response  to  the 
craze  for  blacks  some  years  ago.  Probably  some  Nivernais 
horses  have  been  imported  as  Percherons,  which  they  closely  re- 
semble. It  is  said  the  Percheron  stallions  have  been  used  to 
improve  the  Xivernais  breed,  which,  if  true,  would  account  for 
the  two  breeds  averaging  about  the  same  in  height,  weight,  style 
and  action. 


74 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  \'()rk  State 


6      jf 


>c  5  -^ 


The  Draft  Breeds  of  France  75 

the  perch  eko.x 

France  perhaps  more  than  any  other  country  takes  a  hand  in 
the  efficient  management  and  control  of  her  great  live-stock  in- 
dustry. The  government  inspection,  pensions  and  ownership  must 
be  given  much  of  the  credit  for  the  development  of  the  Percheron 
horse,  which  is  the  most  important  of  the  heavy  breeds  of  France. 
While  Percherons  are  found  in  many  other  parts  of  France  they 
are  bred  more  extensively  in  the  Le  Perche  district,  which  con- 
sists of  four  departments  —  Orne,  Eure  et  Loir,  Loir  et  Cher, 
and  Sarthe  —  and  is  o.nly  about  fifty  to  seventy-five  miles  in 
extent. 

The  origin  of  the  Percheron,  although  more  or  less  obscure,  was 
doubtless  from  the  same  Flemish  source  that  was  the  fountain 
head  of  all  of  the  draft  breeds.  As  there  was  no  studbook  for 
Percheron  horses  in  France,  and  no  pedigrees  of  records  kept, 
up  to  thirty  years  ago,  much  that  has  been  written  of  the  early 
history  of  this  breed  may  be  considered  as  more  or  less  specula- 
tive ;  the  accuracy  of  some  of  the  traditional  Percheron  history 
has  occasionally  been  questioned.  To  whatever  foundation  stock 
the  origin  of  the  Percheron  horse  is  due,  it  is  probable  that  the 
tastes  and  ideas  of  the  French  breeder,  and  the  feed,  climate  and 
class  of  work  required,  had  a  much  greater  influence  in  estab- 
lishing the  early  type  of  this  breed. 

The  early  service  for  which  the  Percheron  first  attracted  atten- 
tion was  rapid  draft  work.  The  work  of  haiiling  heavy  loads 
long  distances  at  a  rapid  pace  did  not  recpiire  horses  of  great 
size  so  we  find  the  Percheron  of  eighty  years  ago  weighing  from 
1,200  to  1,400  pounds,  but  very  active  and  of  great  endurance. 
Much  credit  is  due  the  breeders  of  Le  Perche  in  meeting  the 
later  demands  for  horses  of  greater  size  and  power  and  retaining 
most  of  the  earlier  character  and  action  which  had  made  the 
breed  popular.  The  improvement  of  the  Percheron  in  France  is 
due  both  to  public  and  private  methods. 

Gorejiiniciif    ConfroJ 

Horse  breeding  is  under  the  direction  of  the  ^Minister  of  Agri- 
culture, as  are  also  horse  shows  held  throughout  France.     Large 


76 


The  Hohsk  l.\i>isri;v  i.\  Xkw  ^Ok'k  State 


government  studs  arc  maintained,  and  a  certain  number  of  the 
best  Percheron  stallions  are  pnrcliased  each  year.  During-  the 
breeding  season  these  stallions  are  distributed  in  Le  Perclie  and 
other  breeding  districts,  and  only  a  nominal  fee  is  charged  for 
their  services. 


Fig.   24.     Peecheeox   Stallion,  Kalot,   First   Pkize   Font-YEAR-OLD, 
Paris  Show,  June,  1914 

{Photo  hu  E.  S.  Akin.  Syracuse,   N.  Y.) 

Stallions  owned  by  individuals  must  be  examined  by  a  board  of 
government  veterinarians,  and  only  those  up  to  a  certain  standard 
and  free  from  moon  blindness  and  thick  wind  are  allowed  to  stand 
for  service.  Those  passing  inspection  are  classed  as  ''  approved,'' 
which  carries  with  it  a  pension  from  $50  to  $150  from  the  govern- 
ment. ''Authorized  "  and  "  certified  "  are  two  classes  which  are 
not  pensioned. 

Exhihitions 

There  are  many  horse  shows  held  in  France  each  year.     The 

principal  event  is  the  government  live-stock  show  held  in  Paris  in 

June.     This  show  includes  all  of  the  French  breeds  of  horses, 

as  well  as  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.     At  the  last  Paris  show  there 


The  Draft  Bkeeds  of  Fkance 


77 


were  1,095  horse  entries  of  which  443  were  of  the  draft  breeds. 
Xext  in  importance  is  the  Percheron  Society  Show  held  in 
the  district  of  Le  Perche  for  Percherons  only.  The  last  shuw 
was  held  in  the  old  town  of  Xogent  le  Rotrou,  Jnly  2  to  5,  19  14, 
at  which  there  were  433  entries.  Classes  were  for  two-,  three- 
and  four-year-olds,  stallions  and  mares ;  no  yearlings  are  shown. 
Competition  was  very  keen,  especially  among  the  large  dealers 
who  arc  the  principal  exhibitors. 


Fig.  25.  Percheron  Stallions  in  the  Great  Fovr-Year-Old  Class, 
Called  Back  for  Prizes  at  the  Last  Paris  Show,  Jine,  1914. 
The  White  Stallion  Standing  First  Won  Second  Prize  and  Was 
Sold  to  Herman  Buyers  for  .$2,000 

[Photo  hi/  E.  fi.  Akin.  Si/nicuae.  X.  Y.) 

The  Percheron  breeding  industry  in  France  is  entirely  in  the 
hands  of  the  small  farmer  who  often  keeps  but  one  or  two  brood 
mares.  The  few  men  who  are  heard  of  in  a  large  way  as  snccess- 
ful  exhiliitors  and  principal  sellers  to  the  American  trade  are 
not  breeders  but  dealers,  depending  on  the  small  breeder  for  the 
large  number  which  they  handle.  These  dealers  buy  princi- 
pally stallion  colts  as  weanlings,  and  from  many  exceptionally 
good  mares  the  colts  are  usually  contracted  for  a  year  or  more 
in  advance.  The  long  line  of  pi'ize  winners  which  these  fcAV 
dealers  bring  out  each  year  show  with  what  accurate  judgment 
these  young  colts  are  selected.     There  are  no  more  keen,  earnest, 


78  The  Hoksk  Industky  in  Xew  Vokk  State 

progressive  breeders  than  the  French,  aud  their  ability  in  grow- 
ing, devek)ping  and  showing  has  done  nnich  for  the  snccess  of  the 
Perclieron  breed. 

The  French  breeders  are  also  favored  bv  the  rich  pastures  of 
Le  Perche  district.  These  pastures  are  among  the  best  in  Europe, 
especially  in  the  valleys  and  along  the  rivers  and  streams  with 
which  this  section  is  well  supplied. 

Eavhj  J  in  portatlons 
The  first  Percherons  Avere  imported  to  Xew  Jersey  in   1839, 
but,  since  this  early  importation  included  only  a  few  animals,  the 
breed  did  not  become  well  established  until  after  the  later  im- 
portations in  Illinois  in  1851.     A  Percheron  stallion  colt  from 


Fig.    2fi.     Percheeon    Stalliox,    JMaxdarix,    First    Prize    Two- 
Year-Old,  Paris  Show,  19U 
{Photo  hi/  E.  S.  Akin,  Siiracuse,  X.  Y.) 

the  New  Jersey  stock  was  taken  to  central  New  York  and  traces 
of  this  blood  could  be  found  fifty  years  later  in  lerrades  of  excep- 
tional quality. 

From  the  early  importations,  which  only  assumed  importance 
less  than  sixty  years  ago,  the  Percheron  has  been  the  favorite 
drafter,  and  its  distribution  has  been  rapid  and  widespread.   That 


The  Dkaft  Breeds  of  France  79 

Percherons  outnumber  in  this  couutrj  all  other  breeds  combined 
is  due,  largely,  to  the  cooperation  of  the  French  breeder  with  the 
American  supporters  of  their  breed  in  furnishing  the  type  of 
horse  required.  In  size,  color,  type  and  character,  the  American 
trade  has  dominated  the  development  of  the  Percheron  more 
than  any  other  draft  breed,  but  in  catering  to  the  American  de-« 
maud  the  French  breeder  has  been  amply  rewarded.  Much  credit 
for  the  early  popularity  and  good  start  given  the  breed  is  due  to 
the  enterprise  and  ability  of  the  pioneer  importers  and  breeders, 
but  the  present  importance  of  the  Percheron  breed  may  be  said 
to  rest  solely  on  its  suitability  to  the  needs  and  requirements  of 
the  American  people. 

Among  the  earliest  and  mose  earnest  workers  for  state-wide  im- 
])rovement  in  horse  breeding  conditions  was  John  W.  Akin  of 
tScipio,  X.  Y.,  who  from  1877  until  his  death  in  1893  was  the 
largest  breeder,  importer  and  exhibitor  of  Percherons  in  the 
East. 

Desirable  ( 'hamclerisiics 

As  a  clean-legged  breed  of  finish,  energy  and  action,  easy- 
keeping,  early-maturing,  crossing  well  with  our  native  mares,  the 
Percheron  early  found  favor  with  the  average  American  farmer. 
The  demand  from  the  cities  for  the  highest  class  of  draft  horses  is 
largely  for  Percherons.  Grades  of  this  breed  last  longer  on  the 
streets  than  those  of  any  other  breed. 

Another  point  in  their  favor  is  the  gray  color.  While  other 
colors  are  to  be  found  in  the  breed,  grays  were  most  popular  up 
to  twenty-tive  yeais  ago.  In  meeting  the  later  demand  for  blacks 
it  is  said  that  the  black  Xivernais  were  used  in  crossing  with 
the  Percheron,  which  was  unfortunate,  since  grays  were  soon  in 
favor  again. 

The  average  Percheron  stallion  stands  I6V2  hands,  and  ranges 
in  weight  from  1,(JU0  to  2,000  pounds.  The  popular  weight  for 
Percheron  mares  is  from  1,600  to  1,800  pounds:  in  the  West 
mares  of  lieavier  weights  are  popular.  While  Percherons  are 
fully  up  to  the  draft  requirements  as  to  size,  they  do  not  possess 
the  bulk  or  form  of  the  Shire  or  Belgian.  They  have  a  little 
more  ran2;e  of  good  width,  a  rounded  contour,  short  back  closely 


80  TlIK    llolISK    l.NDUSTKV    J.N    A'eW    VoKK    StATE 

coupled,  a  fairly  level  top-line,  well  arched  neck,  head  of  me- 
dium size,  small  ear,  large  full  eyes  somewhat  heavily  capped, 
good  flat  bone  free  from  long  hair,  feet  of  medium  size,  shapely, 
and  of  the  very  best  quality  of  any  of  the  draft  breeds.  Other 
distinctive  Percheron  features  are  a  combination  of  size,  strength, 
rehnement,  quality,  and  energy,  with  a  most  docile  tractable  dis- 
position. 

The  typical  Percheron  is  also  noted  for  his  superior  action. 
In  this  breed  we  find  a  bold,  snappy,  airy  movement  character- 
istic of  no  other  draft  horse.     The  Percheron  has  sometimes  been 


Fig.   27.     Pebcheron   Mare.   Livottrne,   First   Prize   Tiiree- 
Year-Old,  Paris  Show,  June,  1914 
(Photo  hji  E.  ,Sf.  Akin,  f^iiracuse,  V.  y. ) 

charged  with  being  too  light  in  bone,  and  with  having  short 
pasterns  and  steep  rump.  This  ^criticism  would  apply  however 
more  to  the  earlier  type.  That  the  American  people  have  de- 
clared in  favor  of  the  Percheron  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  up  to 
May  1,  1915,  there  were  recorded  hy  the  Percheron  Society  of 
.\merica,  108,000  animals,  the  draft  breed  next  highest  in  num- 
her  having  18,900.  All  the  other  draft  breeds  combined  had 
less  than  50,000  animals  recorded. 


Tile  Dkaft  Uukeds  of  Fka^"ce  81 

Latter-l)((ii    ( 'onditions 

For  the  past  iiftv  years  horse  breeding  in  Xew  York  has  been 
stimiihited,  and  farm  horses  greatly  improved,  by  the  general 
use  of  Percheron  stallions.  Grade  Percherons  have  added  much 
to  the  farm  efficiency  and  farm  wealth  of  this  state.  While  the 
breeding  of  pnre-bred  Percherons  haS'  not  been  general,  and  the 
nnmber  of  breeders  limited,  several  large  Percheron  breeding 
farms  have  recently  been  developed,  a  nnmber  of  importations 
made,  and  many  small  breeders  interested  in  the  past  few  years. 

]\lany  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  American  licn'se  busi- 
ness have  been  engaged  in  impo.rting  Percherons,  and  the  breed  has 
been  greatly  aided  and  strengthened  by  the  large  number  of  stal- 
lions and  mares  of  high  quality  imported  each  year.  For  a 
nnmber  of  years  American  importers  have  secured,  principally, 
all  of  the  ju'ize  animals  in  France,  many  of  them  costing  from 
$;5,(l(l()  to  $4,000  each.  There  was  l,0o5  Percherons  imported  in 
lOlo  and  1,125  in  1014,  the  European  Avar  preventing  all  ship- 
ments after  August   1,   1014. 

On  account  of  the  heavy  drain  on  this  breed  for  the  w^ar  pur- 
poses it  is  said  that  the  French  Minister  of  Agriculture  will  pi'o- 
hibit  any  shipment  of  Percherons  for  two  years  at  least.  The 
war  has  also  made  it  impossible  to  hold  any  of  the  national  or 
provincial  live-stock  or  horse  shows  in  France  this  year. 

What  America  owes  France  for  the  Percheron  breed  can  never 
be  reckoned  in  dollars,  and,  while  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  im- 
portations are  shut  off,  this  breed  is  in  better  shape  for  fu- 
ture development  in  the  hands  of  the  American  breeder,  with- 
out outside  aid,  than  anv  of  the  other  draft  breeds. 
6 


THE    BELGIAN 

E.  S.  Akin,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

President,  Xew  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders'  Club 

Belgium  offers  an  example  of  the  earliest  and  most  successful 
development  of  draft  horse  breeding,  and,  since  remote  times, 
this  country  has  been  noted  for  its  good  horses.  Tt  may  be  said 
that  Belgium  furnished  the  foundation  blood  for  size  and  bulk  in 
the  improvement  of  all  of  our  draft  breeds  during  their  forniu- 
lative  period.  The  Kingdom  is  about  one-fourth  the  size  of 
A'"ew  York  State,  with  a  population  of  T.nOO.OOO.  and  consists 
of  nine  provinces.  Tn  eight  of  these  provinces  the  Belgian  horse 
is  bred  extensively,  the  province  of  Brabant  alone  having  about 
50,000  horses,  besides  much  other  live  stock. 
^  Belgium  is  densely  populated,  having  many  cities,  towns  and 
villages  close  together.  The  country  is  mostly  low,  fertile  and 
damp;  the  climate  is  mild,  without  the  extreme  variations  com- 
mon to  this  state.  By  intensive  cultivation  and  the  extensive 
use  of  manure  and  phosphoric  acid,  immense  crops  are  produced, 
and,  by  the  system  of  soiling,  each  acre  supports  a  numlier  of 
horses. 

These  conditions  as  well  as  the  taste  and  requirements  of  the 
people  are  especially  favorable  for  the  producer  of  large  horses. 
The  Belgian  peasants  are  generally  enthusiastic  draft  horse 
breeders.  However,  breeding  operations  are  limited,  as  their 
farms  are  small,  averaging  about  three  acres  each.  Xeverthe- 
less  the  (puility  and  value  of  their  colts  are  higher  than  in  any 
other  country.  On  high-priced  land,  in  thickly  settled  sections, 
no  aiiimals  are  kept  that  are  not  both  useful  and  profitable. 

Unlike  France,  Belgium  does  not  maintain  any  government 
stud,  the  development  of  the  Belgium  breed  since  1865  having 
been  left  to  private  enterprise,  aided  by  government  subsidies  and 
prizes  to  horses  of  approved  excellence.  The  establishment  of  the 
National  Society  of  Belgian  Breeders  in  1880,  under  the  official 
name  of  Le  Cheval  de  frait  Behje,  marked  the  beginning  of 
greater  improvement  and  activity  in  draft  horse  breeding.     In  the 

[82] 


The  Belgian 


83 


o  >  .s 

i  C  jf 

■J.  rjr,  . 

[V  cc  rii 


■^    o 


84 


rilK    HoKSK     I.NDrsTKV    1  .\     XkW     ^'oI.'K    S'l'ATK 


show,  pension  and  inspection  system  the  Belgian  government  pays 
ont  $850,000  annnally.  This  system  is  most  complete  and  effec- 
tive in  stimulating  and  encouraging  draft  horse  breeding,  and 
has  placed  Belgium  first  in  the  quality  and  value  of  her  draft 
horse  industry. 

Each  of  the  nine  provinces  of  Belgium  are  subdivided  by 
the  Belgian  association  into  six  districts  for  horse  breeding  pur- 
poses.     Kvery  October  a   show  is  held   in  oat-h  of  the  fifty-four 


Fig.  29.  '"'  Indigene  dti  Fosteait,"  One  of  the  Greatest  of  ^Iodern 
Belgian  Sires.  Champion  at  Brussels,  1906,  1907,  1908,  1909.  Sold 
IN  1914,  at  Twela'e  Years  of  Age,  to  a  Belgian  Company,  for 
$10,000.  Said  to  Have  Been  Shot  with  His  Owner  ry  German 
Soldiers 

districts,  and  all  stallio-ns  over  three  years  old  must  appear  for 
examination  .before  a  committee  of  five.  This  committee,  which 
includes  one  veterinarian,  is  appointed  for  each  district  for  four 
years,  their  Avork  lasting  through  the  month  of  October.  Stallions 
considered  worthy  and  able  to  improve  the  breed  are  approved. 
Unworthy  horses  are  rejected,  the  decision  of  the  committee  beiiig 
final.     After  inspection,  all  stallions  are  shown  for  prizes,  which 


The  Belgian  85 

run  from  $15  to  $S*U  in  value.  Any  owner  not  bringing  his 
stallion  for  examination  and  show,  or  having  a  rejected  stalliou, 
cannot  stand  his  horse  for  public  service  or  collect  any  fees.  If 
this  regulation  is  not  obeyed  he  may  be  fined.  This  insures  the 
use  of  sound  sires. 

In  ^faroh  a  similar  examination  and  show  is  conducted  for 
l)oth  stallions  and  mares  that  were  too  young  for  the  October  show, 
and  similar  prizes  are  aw^arded.  These  tw^o  shows  are  to  eliminate 
the  undesirables  from  Belgian  breeding  stock. 

There  is  also  a  pension  system  which  is  both  national  and  pro- 
vincial. Six  national  pensions  of  $1,200  each  and  tifty-four  pro- 
vincial pensions  of  $1.")0  each,  are  offered  by  the  government  for 
mature  stallions. 

The  big  show  of  the  year  is  held  in  Brussels  the  second  Thurs- 
day in  June,  and  lasts  four  days.  This  show  is  a  national  and 
social  event  and  has  the  enthusiastic  support  of  all  Belgian 
breeders  and  farmers.  It  is  the  largest  and  most  important  draft 
horse  shov;  in  the  world,  and  also  the  largest  show  of  one  breed 
that  is  held  in  Europe.  At  the  19 11  Brussels  show  there  w^ere 
!»08  entries.  Three  types  are  shown  separately — the  Ardennais,  the 
low-set  Brabacon  of  sixteen  hands,  and  the  taller  Flemish  over 
sixteen  hands.  For  each  type  there  are  eight  classes, —  one  each 
for  both  stallions  and  mares  in  two-,  three-,  four-,  and  five-year- 
olds  —  and  from  ten  to  fourteen  prizes  are  provided  for  each  class. 
There  is  also  a  class  for  champion  stallion,  champion  mare,  and 
for  the  best  four  mares  owned  by  one  breeder ;  also  a  class  for 
get  of  sire  and  for  produce  of  one  mare.  Competition  is  keen, 
most  of  the  classes  having  from  thirty  to  eighty  entries.  One 
especially  interesting  feature  of  the  last  day  of  this  show  is  a 
review  of  the  prize  winners  by  the  king  with  his  officers  and  min- 
isters, lietween  three  and  four  hundred  prize  winners  and  cham- 
pions are  led  before  the  king  who  distributes  the  prizes  and 
medals  and  congratulates  the  fortunate  owners.  The  Brussels 
show  is  also  of  great  interest,  and  is  well  attended  by  draft 
horsemen  and  buyers  from  Xorth  and  South  America  as  well  as 
all  other  European  countries. 

Of  the  three  recognized  types  of  the 'Belgian  breed,  the  Arden- 
nais are  the  smallest.      They  average  from  1.400  to  1.000  pounds, 


86 


Jl. 


l.NDLsTuv  i.\  A'ew  York  State 


The  Belgian  87 

are  from  15  to  Ki  bands  liiali,  and  are  very  active.  They  are 
similar  to  the  French  breed  of  the  same  name.  They  are  bred  in 
the  liilly  conntry  of  northern   France  and  sonthern  Belginm. 

The  low-set  Brabacon  weighs  from  1,800  to  2,000  pounds  and 
averages  16  hands  in  height. 

The  Flemish  type,  which  is  especially  favored  in  Belgium, 
is  the  largest,  weighing  2,000  pounds  or  more,  and  measuring 
ll)l/'2  to  IT  hands  in  height. 

The  Belgian  is  a  very  low-set,  deep,  compact-bodied  horse,  short, 
in    l)ach,    well     let     down    in     tlaiik,    with    wide    muscular   ends. 
The  legs  are  short,   verv  lieavv   bone,   and  free  from  hair ;   feet 


Fi(i.  :>1.  Bel(uax  Stallions  ix  the  Five-Year-Old  Class 
Called  Back  eor  Prizes  at  the  Last  Brtssels  Show, 
JrxE,  1914 

medium  size,  rather  short  pasterns ;  head  good  size,  ears  small, 
necks  short,  thick,  and  well  crested.  In  color  the  Belgians  are 
about  lifty  per  cent  bays  and  forty  per  cent  chestnuts  of  the 
various  shades.  The  remaining  ten  per  cent  are  mostly  roans. 
Blacks  and  grays  are  not  popular  in  this  breed. 

In  action  the  Belgian  shows  surprisingly  at  the  trot,  flexing  the 
hocks  and  knees  Avell  and  moving  with  much  spirit  and  vigor. 
They. ship  better,  acclimate  more  readily,  and  can  put  on  more 
weight  in  a  given  time,  than  any  other  breed.  They  are  very 
easy  keepers,  and  are  easily  ])roken  and  handled.  The  earlier 
Belgians  were  inclined  to  coarse  heads,  lop  ears,  short  necks,  low 
backs,  short  round  rumps,  coarse  crooked  hocks,  and  a  general 
lack  of  refinement  and  quality. 


88  Tmo  HoiiSK    I.\i)isri;v    i.\    Xi;\\    ^'()l;K   Statk 

Beliiiaus  were  first  imported  iibout  1800,  and  a  few  scattering; 
importations  were  made  up  to  1H88.  1  have  in  mind  two  im- 
portations made  to  onr  owai  farm  in  1883-85  under  the  name  of 
Boulonnais.  These  horses  were  not  popnlar  in  New  York  State, 
being-  too  blocky  in  type.  In  the  past  twenty-five  years  the  im- 
provement in  the  Belgian  has  been  very  rapid.  There  is  no 
doubt  ])ut  that  the  breed  has  been  much  modified  and  refined  in 
accordance  with  the  American  demand.  The  Belgian  breeders 
realized  fnlly  the   importniice  of  the  foreign  market  and  have 


Fic.  ;)2.     ■  l!i:\i:  i)(  )i;."   Om:  of   iiik  .Xfosi  Xotkd  Stal- 
lions OF  THE  BeL(41AN  BrEED.      CHAMPION  OVER  ALL 

Breeds  at  Paris  Show,  1898;  Also  Champion  at 
Brussels  Show,  ISOS 

(Photi)   hii  ]■:.   ,s'.   .17,-/y/.   ^^iinicuac,   V.   Y. ) 


worked  to  correct  the  existing  faults  of  their  hreed  and  to  im- 
prove their  style,  symmetry  and  action.  While  the  impo^rtation  of 
Belgians  in  anything  like  large  numbers  is  of  comparative  recent 
date,  they  have  shown  in  this  country  the  greatest  percentage  of 
increase,  and  now  rank  next  to  the  Pcrcheron  in  popularity.  The 
Belgian  stallion  is  especially  adapted  for  crossing  on  common 
mares  lacking  weight  and  character.  This  cross  shows  the  great- 
est improvement  in  uniformity  and  draft  type.  The  wonderful 
progress  this  breed  has  made  in  this  country  may  be  said  to  be 


Tjie  Belgian 


89 


entirely  due  to  their  ability  tu  make  good  in  the  hands  of  the  ordi- 
nary breeder.  The  importations  of  Belgians  would  have  been 
nnich  greatei'  but  for  the  limited  number  of  horses  of  this  breed 
in  existence,  and  the  prevailing  high  prices. 

There  is  a  great  demand  in  Belgium  for  breeding  horses,  not 
only  from  America  but  from  all  other  horse  breeding  countries. 
Germany  and  Holland  are  prominent  buyers,  and  I  have  seen 
many  stallions  of  exceptional  quality  sold  to  these  countries  at 
from  $5,000  to  $12,000  each.  Sweden,  Denmark,  Bussia,  Austria 
and  Australia  are  also  liberal  buyers.  The  liberal  prices  and  pen- 
sions have  a  strong  tendency  to  hold  the  best  stallions  in  I)elgium, 


FlO.    .S3.       SEVEXTEE.N    E.NTUIES    OF    Foil!    MAKES    EaCII    ShOWX    BEFORE    THE 

King  of  Belgifm  at  the  l>Asr  Buvssels  8uow,  .Ji'ne,  1914 
(Photo  III/  E.  S.  Akin,  Syracuse,  y.  Y.) 

and  to  the  credit  of  the  Belgian  l)reeders  it  may  be  said  that  no 
champions,  and  very  few  prize  animals,  are  sold  to  go  out  of  the 
country  at  any  price,  lentil  recently  Belgian  mares  have  not 
been  imported  extensively  owing  to  their  scarcity  and  their  high 
values,  but  the  strong  and  persistent  demand  for  mares  has  in- 
duced importers  for  the  past  few  years  to  bring  them  over  in 
increasing  numbers.  Several  importations,  principally  of  mares, 
have  been  made  for  various  breeders  in  this  state  from  1012  to 
1914.  The  exhibition  and  sale  of  this  stock  has  greatly  stimulated 
and  increased  Belgian  breeding  in  the  East,  and  it  is  hoped  that 


90  TiiK  HoKSK  IxDrsiKY  i.\  Xkw  York  Statk 

there  will  soon  be  more  home-bred  colts  to  supply  the  demand. 
Belgians  have  been  the  longest  and  most  favorably  known  in  In- 
diana, Iowa,  Illinois  and  Ohio,  but  in  recent  years  have  been  dis- 
tributed in  all  O'f  the  horse  breeding  states. 

Since  no  more  I3elgians  can  be  imported,  and,  in  numbers,  this 
breed  is  comparatively  small,  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that 
the  American  breeder  use  the  foundation  stock  at  hand  to  the 
best  possible  advantage.  Any  future  development  of  this  breed 
in  this  conntry  must  be  without  outside  aid.  For  centuries'  the 
world's  battle  ground,  little  Belgium  is  again  sorely  stricken  by 
the  disaster  of  war.  In  the  destruction  of  her  great  breed  of 
draft  horses,  the  constructive  work  of  generations  is  lost,  the  prin- 
cipal source  of  wealth  of  her  peasant  farmers  cut  off,  and  the 
increasing  and  lasting  benefit  of  the  Belgian  draft  breed  lost 
to  the  whole  world  for  \ears  to  come. 


THE  DRAFT  BREEDS  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN 

E.  S.  Akix,  Syracuse,  X.  Y. 

President,  Xew  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders'  Club 
The  British  draft  breeds  have  had  a  long  period  of  develop- 
ment. Early  history  shows  that  horses  were  bred  entirely  for  war 
purposes.  From  the  seventh  to  the  eighteenth  century  changing 
conditions  of  warfare  made  larger  horses  necessary,  as  a  result  of 
which  the  use  of  small  stallions  was  prohibited,  and  larger  stal- 
lions were  imported  from  Flanders  to  ^cross  with  the  British 
mares.  Up  to  the  eighteenth  centnry  oxen,  and  horses  untit  for 
war  purposes,  were  used  for  work.  After  the  beginning  of  this 
century  horses  ^  became  more  important  for  work  and  the  real  de- 
velopment of  the  draft  horse  began.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteen  century  we  find  two  distinct  types  of  cart  horses — the 
hirge,  black  old  English  horse  which  was  the  result  of  the  Flemish 
cross,  and  the  Suffolk  Punch,  which  seems  to  have  been  developed 
without  outside  help  or  crossing  with  other  foreign  or  alien  blood. 
In  this  respect  Sutfolks  are  probably  the  purest  breed  of  draft 
horses.  The  characteristics  of  this  breed  have  remained  prac- 
tically unchanged  for  the  past  hundred  years,  except  for  an  in- 
crease ill  size.  There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  Scotch  and 
English  breeders  have  made  their  draft  breeds  what  they  wanted 
them  to  be  and  are  well  satisfied  with  the  results. 

Although  about  the  same  in  color  and  markings,  the  two  prin- 
cipal British  draft  breeds  are  quite  distinct  in  other  character- 
istics, as  well  as  in  size.  Great  credit  must  be  given  the  breeders 
of  both  countries  in  the  uniformity  of  type  of  their  three  draft 
breeds.  The  British  Government,  unlike  that  of  France  and 
Belgium,  makes  no  inspection  and  pays  no  subsidies.  Personal 
endeavor  and  enterprise,  with  hearty  cooperation  among  breeders, 
have  accomplished  results  possible  in  no  other  country. 

THE    SUFFOLK 

The  Suffolk  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  draft  breeds,  and  is  the 
most  scarce.     Their  color  is  the  most  uniform  of  all  breeds,  and 

[91J    - 


92 


TiiK  HoKJSE  1.\jjL!»ti;v  i.\  A'ew   York  ialxATE 


The  ])K.\Fr  IJkkeds  of  Great   l!i;riAi.\  03 

thev  are  claimed  to  be  bred  and  used  more  exchisivelv  for  agri- 
cultural purposes  than  any  of  the  draft  breeds.  They  originated 
in  eastern  England,  principally  in  Suffolk  county,  from  which 
the  breed  takes  its  name.  They  are  also  bred  in  smaller  numbers 
in  adjoining  counties. 

The  Sulfolk  is  one  of  the  most  distinctive  types  of  drafters 
known.  The  color  of  this  breed,  which  is  referred  to  with  nuich 
pride  by  the  English  breeder,  is  chestnut,  which  became  tixcd 
nearly  two  centuries  ago.  No  animals  of  an}-  other  color  are 
allowed  to  be  recorded  in  the  Sutl'olk  Studbook.  All  shades  from 
light  sorrel  to  dark  liver  are  classed  as  chestnut,  but  the  shade 
nearest  to  red  chestnut,  with  very  little  white,  is  most  popular. 

The  facts  in  connection  with  the  old-time  history  of  the  origin 
and  development  of  this  breed  seems  to  be  well  established, 
and  show  that  there  has  been  no  crossing  or  mixing  with  foreign 
blood —  at  least  since  the  lieginning  of  the  eighteenth  century- — as 
was  the  case  in  all  the  other  draft  breeds.  The  Suffolk  breeding 
districts  in  eastern  England,  especially  Suffolk  county,  while 
small  in  area,  are  very  fertile  and  extremely  well  cultivated. 
The  rich  low  pastures  mostly  along  the  rivers  and  English  chan- 
nel are  well  adapted  to  the  development  of  heavy  horses.  Some 
of  these  pastures  are  below  sea  level  and  are  protected  by  embank- 
ments. They  are  very  productive  and  furnish  an  abundance  of 
feed  most  of  the  year. 

For  the  future  of  the  Suffolk  breed  it  is  fortunate  that  there 
were  a  few  wealthy  men  in  Suffolk  who  became  largely  inter- 
ested in  the  improvement  and  preservation  of  this  old  breed  of 
horses  during  the  past  twenty  years.  These  public  spirited  men 
have  purchased  and  kept  large  numbers  of  the  best  stallions  and 
mares,  working  and  breeding  them  on  their  large  estates,  and 
showing  them  annually  at  all  of  the  principal  fairs,  from  the 
local  town  and  county  shows  up  to  the  Royal,  w'hich  is  the  prin- 
cipal fair  of  Great  Britain.  On  these  estates  are  kept  the  cham- 
pion and  prize  Suffolk  stallions,  which  are  not  fw  sale  at  any 
price.  The  tenant  farmers  are  allowed  and  encouraged  to  breed 
their  mares  to  these  noted  sires  at  a  nominal  fee.  I^early  all 
colts  bred  on  the  small  farms  are  sold  at  weaning  time  at  private 
sale,  or  combined  public  sale.     The  best  of  them  are  purchased  by 


94 


Tiii';  JloKsi;  I  Mxsri;^-  ix   Xi:\v   \'()uk  State 


the  few  principal  dealers,  and  are  developed  on  tlieii-  lari>e  estates 
for  the  foreign  trade. 

The  export  trade  has  been  very  large  in  comparison  to  the 
nnniher  available,  and  this  breed  has  had  an  extremely  wide  dis- 
tribntion,  having  been  exported  to  Germany,  Austria,  Sweden, 
and  Russia  in  Europe,  and  to  South  Africa,  Australia,  New 
Zealand,  Argentine  Republic  and  Canada.  SufFolks  have  been 
imported  and  bred  in  a  small  way  for  the  past  thirty- five  years 
in  the  United  States,  but  only  a  few  importers  have  interested 
themselves  in  this  breed. 


Fig.  35.  Suffolk  Stalliox,  Srnp.oxnixE  Red  Cup,  Champion  at 
Last  Royal  Show,  Shrewsbfry,  Exglaxd,  JrxE,  1914.  Owned 
BY  Mr.  Clark. 

(Photo  hji  I".   8.  .\k>)i,  i<iirariisr,  \.   Y.) 

( 'ltd ri'dcnsl ics 
The  Suffolks  are  especially  noted  for  their  uniform  color,  clean 
bone,  early  maturity,  deep  rounded  bodies,  and  level  smooth  top 
line.  They  average  in  height  from  15^}4  to  l<v>4  hands,  and  in 
weight  from  1,500  to  1,800  pounds,  with  a  few  heavier.  As 
compared  with  the  other  draft  breeds  they  are  lighter  in  weight, 
but  their  endurance  and  easy-keeping  qualities,  as  well  as  their 
docility  and  uniform  good  dispositions,  make  them  an  ideal  horse 
for  the  small  farmer  who  wishes  to  breed  horses  for  his  own  use 
rather  than  for  the  citv  market. 


The  Draft  Breeds  of  Great  Britain 


05 


The  Sutiolk  lias  a  very  clean  leg,  showing  no  more  hair  or 
feather  than  the  French  breeds.  In  this  respect  thev  are  so 
radically  different  from  the  very  hairv-legged  Shire  horse  in  the 
adjoining  counties  that  it  is  hard  for  many  people  to  believe  that 
they  are  both  bred  in  the  same  small  country.  The  Shire  horse 
breeders  hardly  consider  the  Snff'olks  at  all  and  refuse  to  class 
them  as  a  draft  breed.  Among  the  breeders  of  Snffolks,  the 
shaggy-legged  Shire  is  even  less  popular.  Both  are  prejudiced 
and  have  no  ideas  or  aims  in  common. 


Fig.  3G.  Scifolk  Make,  SmnoruxE  ^NfAiiuiLAss,  Cham- 
pion AT  Last  Royal  Siioav,  Shrewsiury,  England, 
JrxE,   1014.     OwxED   i!Y  ^fi;.  C'lark 

iPlioli,    hji   K.   S.    M;ill,   Si/rai-ii-^r.    \,    Y.) 


The  principal  restrictions  to  tbeir  more  rapid  introduction  in 
the  United  States  were  the  small  numl)er  of  animals  of  any  age 
available,  as  well  as  tlie  keen  competition  among  buyers  of  the 
various  countries,  and  the  high  prices,  which  average  somewhat 
higher  than  for  other  draft  lu-eeds.  ]\Iany  of  the  old-time 
Suft'olks  liad  long  low  backs,  crooked  Avoak  hocks.  Hat  lu'ittle  feet, 
and  were  light  in  l)one  compared  with  size  and  bulk  of  top.  These 
very  serious  faults,  somewhat  common  to  the  Suffolk  up  to  about 
1900,  have  been  largely  corrected  and  eliminated.  The  present- 
day  Suffolk  has  probably  more  size,  more  (piality,  and  l)Ottor 
conformation  than  at  any  tinie  in  the  past. 


06  Thk  Hoksk  IxDi'sTuv  ix  Xkw   \'()i;k  State 

Sull'olk  hoivses  have  been  imported  and  sold  in  Xew  York 
State  for  a  ninnber  of  years,  but  oiiJv  in  the  past  three 
years  have  they  been  imported  to  this  state  in  sufficient  numbers 
and  of  quality  to  attract  the  serious  attention  of  the  farmers  and 
])reeders  as  a  practical  business  proposition.  \  believe  the 
Suffolk  horse  will  become  more  popular  in  Xew  York  State  each 
.year,  as  they  are  especially  adapted  to  our  aiiricnltnral  require- 
ments. 

THE    CEVDESDALE 

This  breed  is  recognized  today  as  principally  the  work  of 
Scotch  breeders.  The. early  history  of  the  Clydesdale  would 
show  their  origin  to  have  been  the  same  as  the  English  Shire, 
and  that  the  blood  of  the  English  draft  bi'eeds  was  derived  prin- 
cipally from  the  Flanders  source.  To  the  old  Flemish  horse  of 
Belgium  the  modern  dydesdale,  as  well  as  most  of  the  other 
draft  breeds,  owe  their  origin.  As  a  starting  point  for  the  real 
improvement  of  the  Clydesdale,  credit  is  now  given  to.  a  black 
Flemish  stallion  imported  from  England  into  Scotland  about 
1750  by  John  Patterson  of  Lochlyoch.  T'p  to  the  time  when  the 
Clydesdale  Horse  Society  and  the  Shire  Society  were  formed  in 
1883,  the  two  breeds  had  a  closer  resemblance  than  now,  and  there 
was  also  more  or  less  crossing,  many  times  with  excellent  results. 
Since  that  time  there  has  been  very  little  crossing  and  the  breeds 
have  in  type  and  size  drifted  wider  apart.  The  principal  dis- 
tinction between  the  two  breeds,  especially  in  size,  have  been 
brought  about  by  the  diiierence  in  the  countries  where  l)red. 
Bulk  or  heavy  weight  in  draft  horse  breeds  was  developed  on,  low 
ground.  Scotland  being  largely  a  hilly,  broken  country,  a  lighter 
more  active  breed  resulted.  Also,  the  individual  tastes  of  the 
l)reeders  of  England  and  Scotland  differ  widely,  the  latter  pre- 
ferring a  horse  of  less  weight  and  one  having  more  quality  and 
action. 

Clydesdales  were  at  first  bred  in  the  valley  of  the  river  Clyde 
in  southern  Scotland,  principally  in  the  county  of  Lanark.  Per- 
haps the  most  successful  Clydesdale  breeding  districts  at  the 
present  time  are  the  counties  of  Dunfries,  Kirkcudbright  and 
Wighton  in  lower  Scotland,  and  Aberdeenshire  in  the  north.  It 
may  be  said,  however,  that  now  Clydesdales  of  high  quality  and 


ThK     Dl.'AKT    IjKKEUS    OF    (  iKKAT    UjOTAlA' 


97 


I'asliiouable  breeding  are  raised  in  ])ractieally  every  county  of 
Scotland.  Clydesdale  improvement  and  distribution  in  Scotland 
lias  been  made  possible  by  a  few  men  who  have  been  breeders  not 
only  in  a  large  way,  but  have  either  owned  or  bred  and  developed 
most  of  the  champion  stallions  and  mares  of  the  breed.  These 
men,  who  are  also  dealers,  buy  many  of  the  best  Clydesdale  stal- 
lion colts  as  weanlings.  Stallions  of  all  ages  are  kept  on  these 
large  estates  in  sufficient  nnmbers  to  supply  the  export  trade,  but 
the  best  trade,  which  is  peculiar  to  Scotland,  is  the  business  of 
leasing  stallions.     Companies  or  associations  are  formed  by  the 


Fig.  37.     Clydesdale  Stallion.  Ciaitjstoxe,  CiiAMriox  at  In- 
diana AXD  Illinois  State  Faiks,  l!)14.     Owned  by  Leitch  & 

Sons 

[I'holn   hit   llihtrhrniul,  Chicaiio,  III.} 

farmers  in  most  towusliips  in  Scothmd,  not  to  buy  stallions  but 
to  rent  them  for  the  season.  Fsually  one  hundred  mares  are 
guaranteed  at  from  $25  to  $50  each,  and  competition  is  keen  for 
some  stallions  of  exceptional  merit  and  breeding.  Tu  this  way 
lu-eeding  stock  is  evenly  distributed,  Clydesdale  breeding  encour- 
aged, and  uniformity  in  type  maintained. 

For  the  past  twenty  years  the  efforts  of  the  Scotch  breeder 
have  been  mainly  directed  to  improve  the  hocks,  feet,  length  of 
pastern,   quality  of  bone,   feather  and   action.      To  obtain   these 
7 


98 


The  Hoksk  l.Nuusxjiv  ijs'  ^.ew  Vuuk  State 


points  they  have  sacrificed   much   in   size  of  bone,   weight   and 
ruggedness  of  their  horses. 

Of  the  draft  breeds  the  Clydesdale  was  among  the  earliest  to 
be  imported  into  the  United  States,  and  in  the  eighties  the  Scot- 
tish drafter  was  the  most  important  and  numerous  of  the  heavy 
breeds ,  in  our  show  ring,  but  the  fact  that  the  American  and 
Scotch  trade  require  a  different  draft  type,  together  with  the 
fact  that  Clydesdale  breeders  in  the  United  States  and  Canada 
have  beaten  the  Scotchmen  at  his  own  game,  has  practically  elim- 
inated Clydesdale  importation. 


Fig.  38.     Clydesdale  Mare,  Havistotjn  Baroness,  Cham- 
pion, Highland  Show,  Scotland,  1912;   International, 
Chicago,  1912-13.    Owned  by  Fairholme  Farms 
(Photo  by  H Udehrand ,  Chicago,  III.) 

Some  of  the  most  intelligent  and  progressive  men  ever  con- 
nected with  the  draft  horse  business  have  been  among  the  earlier 
supporters  of  the  Clydesdale.  Upholders  of  this  breed  are  now 
less  in  number,  but  have  among  them  some  men  of  unlimited 
■means  w^ho  are  enthusiastic  Clydesdale  advocates,  and  are  doing 
much  in  the  agricultural  press  and  show  ring  to  make  their 
favorite  breed  more  popular  in  the  eastern  states.  Clydesdales 
have  been  the  Canadian  draft  breed  for  the  past  fifty  years.  This 
is  only  natural  in  a  country  so  closely  in  sympathy  with  British 


The  Draft  Breeds  of  Gkeat  Bkitaix  99 

ideas  and  methods.  WTiile  the  Scotch  breed  is  still  the  pre- 
eminent drafter,  it  may  be  said  that  the  Clydesdale  has  reached 
the  height  of  its  popularity.  The  many  importations  of 
Percherons,  and  their  larger  numbers  in  the  show  rings,  in  the 
past  few  years,  would  indicate  the  increasing  demand  for  the 
French  breed  across  the  border. 

('hamcteristlcs 

The  modern  Clydesdale  is  somewhat  lighter  in  weight  than  the 
other  draft  breeds,  ranging  from  1,400  to  1,800  pounds— a  few 
are  heavier.  They  average  in  height  from  15-3  to  17  hands.  In 
color,  they  are  chiefly  browns  and  bays,  many  having  more  or 
less  white  hairs  mixed  in  their  coats.  There  are  also  some  blacks, 
!-oans  and  chestnuts.  Gray  is  not  a  popular  color.  The  abun- 
dant white  markings  on  fat-e  and  legs,  which  often  reaches  the 
body  in  irregular  splashes,  seem  to  be  favored  by  the  Scotch 
breeder,  also  the  feather  or  hair  on  the  legs,  which  has  been  some- 
what reduced  and  improved  in  quality. 

The  good  qualities  of  the  C^lydesdale  from  an  American  stand- 
point would  be  their  level  top,  well-sprung  ribs,  quality  of  hocks 
ai-d  bone,  well-set  pasterns,  with  true  straight  action  at  a  walk 
and  trot  that  is  remarkable,  being  surpassed  by  no  other  breed. 
The  criticism  of  a  ( 'lydesdale  today  is  their  tendency  to  be  light 
in  the  body,  narrow  in  chest  and  loose  in  coupling.  This 
rather  rangy  conformation  is  probably  the  cause  of  their  slower 
maturity.  They  are  also  not  as  easy  keepers  as  the  closer-made 
breeds.  The  breed  also  lacks  in  bone  and  in  feet,  which  are 
inclined  to  be  flat. 

From  the  Scottish  breeders'  obstinate  refusal  to  cooperate  or 
consider  the  wants  or  recpiirements  of  the  American  trade  it 
would  seem  they  must  have  greatly  underestimated  the  limitless 
room  for  Clydesdale  expansion  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  This 
expansion  is  only  possible  when  Clydesdale  breeders  can  satisfy  the 
insistent  and  increasing  American  demand  for  a  more  rugged, 
draftier  horse,  having  more  bone,  clean-legged,  and  the  white 
eliminated  from  their  coats.  The  future  success  of  this  breed  in 
this  country  depends  on  the  ability  of  the  breeder  to  change  from 
the  Scotch  to  the  American  type  of  draft  horse. 


100 


Tjik  lioiJSK  l.\DLsri;v  lA  JSkw  Vukk  Statk 


riip;  SHIRK 
As  has  already  been  shown  the  British  draft  breeds  were  evolved 
from  the  English  war  horse  of  early  days,  crossed  with  the  old 
black  horse  of  Flanders.  With  practically  the  same  origin, 
and,  up  to  a  comparatively  recent  date,  a  similarity  in  type  and 
blood,  there  is  now  a  wide  difference  in  the  characteristics  of  the 
modern  Clydesdale  and  Shire.  To  a  marked  degree  the  Shire 
represents  the  English  idea  of  a  draft  horse.  In  attaining  the 
great  bulk  or  size  the  English  breeder  has  been  especially  favored. 


Fig.    39.     .Shire    Stallion.    Cirldwick,    C'hampiox    at    the    London 
SiiiRE  Horse  Show,  1914 
{Courtesy  of  Sanders  Piiblisliino  Co.,  Chicago,  III.) 

The  low-lying,  rich  pasture  country  of  Cambridge  and  Lincoln- 
shire is  much  more  favorable  to  massive  growth  than  is  Scotland. 
In  these  counties  the  Shire  and  the  earlier  black  Lincolnshire 
cart  horse  have  been  chiefly  bred. 

The  Shire  Horse  Society,  as  well  as  many  very  prominent 
Englishmen,  including  the  late  King  Edward  and  the  present 
King,  have  done  much  for  the  Shire  horse  interests  and  improve- 
ment.    The  Shire  Horse  Societv  has  also  been  verv  active  in 


The  Draft  Breeds  of  Great  Britain  101 

promoting'  the  large  shows,   of  which  the  London   Shire   Horse 
Show  is  one  of  the  most  important. 

Xext  to  the  Belgian  the  Shire  is  the  heaviest  breed,  bnt  the 
latter  is  larger  boned  and  coarser  in  build.  Generally  speaking, 
the  Shire  is  more  massive  than  the  other  breeds,  but  less  com- 
pactly made,  standing  161/)  to  17  hands  in  height,  and  averaging 
from  1,7(H)  to  2,200  pounds  in  weight.  In  build  they  are  some- 
what rounder  in  body  than  the  Belgians,  not  so  deep,  and,  like 
tlie  Belgians,  are  of  many  colors,  ranging  from  black  through  the 
different  shades  of  bay,  brown  and  chestnut  to  roan  and  gray, 
with  the  same  liberal  white  markings  as  the  Clydesdale.  White, 
soft,  silky  feather  is  preferred,  and  the  quantity  of  hair  on  the 
legs  seems  to  be  of  great  importance  to  the  Shire  breeder.  An 
abundance  of  long  bushy  hair  on  the  cannon  bone  is  associated 
with  great  strength,  in  the  mind  of  the  English  breeder,  and  he 
sometimes  resorts  to  artificial  means  to  increase  its  growth. 

DistrihuiioH  and  Advantages 
The  distribution  of  the  Shire  in  this  country  is  more  restricted 
than  general.  There  are  some  sections  in  the  ^liddle  West  where 
they  are  bred  almost  exclusively,  while  in  many  of  the  eastern 
states  they  are  almost  unknown.  This  was  not  always  so.  There 
is  little  do'ubt  that  the  Shire  under  various  other  names  was  im- 
ported into  the  eastern  states  a  very  long  time  ago.  Tt  is  said 
that  a  strain  of  horses  called  the  John  Bulls  in  Pennsylvania  w'ere 
probably  descended  from  English  stock.  Later  this  breed  found 
its  way  to  Illinois  and  adj(.>ining  states. 

(characteristics 
It  may  be  said  that  the  Shire  horse  has  been  much  improved 
in  quality  and  action  in  the  past  fifty  years,  and  is  now  more 
uniform  in  type.  This  breed,  however,  is  of  a  more  sluggish 
temperament,  and  is  not  so  docile  or  even  in  disposition  as  the 
other  draft  breeds.  From  an  American  viewpoint  it  is  hard  to 
understand  the  English  tenacity  of  purpose  in  carrying  out  some 
of  their  own  peculiar  fads  or  fancies  in  developing  the  Shire 
type.  Aside  from  size  and  bone,  in  which  this  breed  excels,  this 
type  has  been  established  without  any  regard  to  the  wants  or  re- 
(]uirements  of  the  American  trade.      An  enormous  amount  of  hair 


102  The  Horse  Ia'dustrv  in  ^'e\v  Yokk  Statk 

about  the  legs,  with  tendency  of  the  bone  to  be  round  and  meaty, 
straight  pasterns,  frequently  too  much  white  on  face  and  legs, 
large  size  and  contour  of  head,  which  is  more  prominent  from 
the  lightness  of  neck,-^seem  to  be  the  characteristics  of  the 
breed.  Some  of  these  points  are  found  in  a  marked  degree  in 
the  champion  and  prize  animals  of  the  Englis.h  show  ring. 

In  diminishing  numbers  Shires  are  being  imported  to  America, 
not   of  the  type   fa^^'ored   in    England,   but   animals   smoother   in 


Fig.  40. —  Shire  ^Mare,  Dxt.vsmore  Chemie,  C'uami'ion,  Loxdox  Shire  Horse 

Show,  1914 
{Courtcfijl  of  .SV/Hf/fr.S'  PnhJiyJiinfi  Co.,  Chicago,  III.) 

build,  with  less  feather  and  less  white  markings.  To  those  who 
have  watched  the  Shire  at  our  principal  shows  it  is  apparent  that 
prize  winners  as  selected  by  American  judges  are  closer  in  type 
to  the  clean-legged  continental  breeds.  Although  there  seems  to 
be  a  growing  interest  on  both  sides  of  the  water  in  what  is  termed 
'^  Quality  Shire  "  it  will  need  a  more  radical  change  in  the  British 
poMcy  and  effort  than  we  may  expect  before  the  Shire  interests 
in  this  country  can  greatly  expand. 


The  Draft  Breeds  of  Great  Britain  103 

In  different  parts  of  the  east  Shire  stallions  of  early  times  were 
known  under  the  various  names  of  John  Bull,  Sampson,  English 
Draft,  etc.  While  this  early  draft  blood  was  valuable,  the  bene- 
fit was  not  lasting,  except  as  it  was  used  in  crossing  with  other 
draft  breeds  which  followed.  About  1850,  a  breed  called  the 
Sampson  was  known  in  the  central  part  of  jSTew  York  State. 
In  the  early  sixties  I  remember  many  grade  Sampson  colts  on 
our  own  farm  that  were  excellent  workers.  These  horses  were 
mostly  blacks,  medium  in  weight,  of  rather  rough  open  build, 
with  great  energy  and  endurance.  The  general  impoi*tation  of 
Shires  does  not  date  back  much  before  1880.  The  number  im- 
ported was  never  great,  but  more  in  former  years  than  now.  The 
Shire  has  made  his  best  record  in  the  middle  western  states  where 
they  have  been  most  successful  in  producing  big,  high-priced 
geldings  and  farm  native  mares.  The  exceptional  bulk,  frame, 
strength  and  bone  of  the  Shire  are  qualities  that  are  especially 
valuable.  With  this  breed,  size  and  substance  can  be  obtained 
with  greater  certainty  and  more  quickly  than  with  any  other 
draft  blood. 

Grade  Shire  mares  are  especially  valuable  in  crossing  with 
stallions  of  other  breeds.  Many  of  the  largest  and  best  grade 
mares  and  geldings  on  the  western  farms  at  the  present  time  are 
from  this  sort  of  mating.  With  the  future  uncertainty  of  draft 
horse  importations,  especially  of  the  continental  breeds,  Shire 
importations  will  probably  increase,  since  this  breed  will  be  avail- 
able in  greater  numbers  than  any  other  after  the  war. 

The  following  figures,  as  reported  by  the  various  registry 
associations,  will  show  the  comparative  number  of  animals  of  the 
five  draft  breeds  imported  in  1913-14,  those  recorded  and  trans- 
ferred in  1914,  and  the  total  number  recorded  up  to  May,  1915 : 


Breeds 
Suffolk.  .  . 
Shire.  .  .  . 
Clydesdale. 
Belgian.  .  . 
Percheron. 


Imported 
in  1913 

Imported 
in  1914 

Total  No. 

recorded 

in  1914 

Transfers 
in  1914 

Reco-ded 

up  to  May 

1,  1915 

40 

24 

86 

20 

90S 

181 

56 

821 

15,761 

98 

51 

680 

553 

18,900 

027 

391 

3,534 

13,947 

1,935 

1,125 

9,364 

9,198 

108,000 

HACKNEY    BREEDING    IN  AMERICA- 


IvKcaxALi)  ('.   Vaxderbit/i- 

President.  American  JIacUney  llorso  Society,  Sandy  Point  Farm,  Newport .  Pv.  T. 

The  iniprovcnieiit  in  the  ehiss  of  Ilack- 
iievs  hred  in  this  eountrv  during  the  past 
few  vears  lias  l)een  so  marked  that  many 
helieve  that  we  can  show  as  good  speci- 
mens of  the  l)reed  as  the  best  that  are 
imp(3rted  from  Enghnid.  With  the  exis- 
tence of  the  European  war  and  conse- 
ijuent  stoppage  of  importations,  compari- 
son, for  tlie  j)resent  at  least,  is  useless, 
and  it  is  to  the  stock  farms  of  America 
that  the  TTackney  niu.-t  look  foi-  its  future. 

What  will  the  Hackney  of  the  future  be  and  from  what  blood 
will  it  be  produced  ^  To  answer  these  questions  we  must  look 
to  our  breeders,  for  upon  what  they  are  doing  today  will  depend 
the  results  of  tomo^rrow. 

I  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  l»lood  lines  which  the  ditferent 
breeders  are  following  and  to  their  own  opinions  on  matters  of 
interest  to  the  lireeder. 

I  shall  take,  for  example,  the  Pabst  Stock  Farm,  belonging  to 
Mr.  Fred  Pabst,  and  situated  at  Oconomowoc,  Wis.  ]\[r.  Pabst's 
foundation  was  secured  by  an  importation  in  19(h;  of  two  stal- 
lions and  twenty  mares,  and  in  the  spring  of  1907  he  further  in- 
creased his  stock  by  purchasing  from  Mr.  F.  1).  Jordan  all  the 
Hackneys  at  his  Plymouth  Hackney  Stud  at  Plymouth,  Mass. 
Among  this  lot,  which  consisted  of  over  one  hundred  animals  of 
all  sizes  and  ages,  were  such  well-known  stallions  as  Gentleman 
John,  a  champion  of  the  Xational  Iloi'se  Show,  and  Dilham 
Prime  Minister,  probably  the  best  pony  sii'C  in  America  at  that 
time,  having  go^tten  such  good  ones  as  Lady  Dilham  and  Bit 
o'Fashion.  Later  on  Mr.  Pabst  added  to  his  stud  Meanwood 
Majesty,  by  the  celebrated  F(u-est  King. 


*  Courtesy  of   The  Field:  Tlie   Advanced   Apricnltiiral   Publishing  Co.,  Xew 
York  Citv,  piiWishers. 

I104I 


IIacK.XKY     I^KKKDINC    I.N    AmKIMCA 


105 


Aiiioiii:  tlic  l.nMid  mures  ;ir(":  (';iyiit..ii  I'liyllis,  by  Pdlonius 
and  Saiiitlv.  l>y  Dissenter,  nnt  of  (,)neen  of  the  Sontli,  by  Clarton 
Duke  ().f  Connau-ht.  This  mare  is  the  dam  of  Consternation, 
which  was  l)red  at  this  farm  and  is  now  owned  by  Miss  Long  of 
Kansas  City,  for  whom  she  won  reserve  to  the  ehampionship  at 
the  National  two  years  ago. 

There  are  also  mares  by  Gentleman  John,  Lord  Denby  II, 
Prince  Crcnnpton,  and  descendants  of  old  Viscountess,  champion 
at  New  ^'drk  in  1S'.>8,  as  well  as  Gossip,  the  dam  of  the  well- 
known  Xorena  and  Chatterbox. 

At  the  present  time  ^Ir.  Pabst's  pony  sire  is  Masterpiece,  by 
Lord  St.  Kitts,  which  is  by   Dilham   Prime  ^Minister  and  ont  of 


Fig.  41.  IIackxfy  Si  ai.i.iox,  IRVI^'(iTO^-  Marlhoko. 
Owned  by  \V.  D.  Henry,  Irvincto.n  Kai:m,  Skmckley, 
Pa. 

(Coiirtexil  nf  '•  The  Firhl.") 

Ladv  Kitty,  she  by  Sir  Horace,  Kngland's  greatest  pony  sire. 
The  dam  of  :\lasterpiece  is  Elegance  III,  also  dam  of  Lady 
Dilham. 

In  1007  Sir  Humphrey  was  added  to  the  stud.  This  horse 
won  the  championship  at  Olympia.  and  since  .standing  at  the 
Pabst  Farm  has  prodnced  many  promising  youngsters.  Further 
addition  was  made  a  few  years  later,  when  several  brood  mares 


10(> 


The  Hojvse  Industry  in  JS'ew   York  State 


HackiS'ey  Breeding  ix  Amejuca 


107 


were  bought  from  Hon.  Henry  Fairfax,  and  were  hred  to  Mi-. 
Fairfax's  Bagthorpe  Snltan,  l)v  Forest  Kini:.  Later  IJaathorpe 
Sultan  was  himself  bought,  and  he  is  now  at  the  head  of  this 
stud.  That  he  is  a  successful  sire  has  been  proven  bv  the  number 
of  prize-winners  he  has  gotten,  the  wheelers  of  the  team  Mr. 
Pabst  exhibited  last  season  being  among  them. 

There  are  now  over  ninety  horses  at  the  farm,  including  brood 
mares,  young  stock  and  horses  in  training.  Last  year  fourteen 
totals  were  raised,  many  of  them  by  Bagthc-rpe  Sultan  and  out  of 
Sir  Humphrey  mares.  Mr.  Pabst  makes  a  point  of  having  his 
show  strinii'  consist  of  horses  of  his  own  In-eedino". 


Fig.   48.     Hackxev   Colts  ix   Pasti  he   at   Daxiel  .).    Dhis- 
coll's  Hackxey  Horse  Farm,  Axrurx,  Pa. 

{Courtesy  of  '•  The  Field."' 

Aside  from  raising  pure-bi'cd  Hackneys,  Mr.  Pabst  is  inter- 
ested in  crossing  Hackneys  with  horses  of  other  breeds,  and  is  a 
tirm  believer  in  the  excellent  results  that  can,  for  various  objects, 
be  thus  obtained.  Three  3'ears  ago  he  bred  a  number  oi  Hackney 
mares  to  a  Thoroughbred  horse  called  Dick  Burgess,  by  Sir 
Dixon  and  out  of  a  mare  by  Hindoo,  and  has  a  very  classy  lot  of 
youngsters  which  he  feels  sure  will  be  heard  from  in  the  hunter 
and  saddle  classes.  Xot  only  for  these  purposes  does  he  consider 
the  Hackney  cross  invaluable,  but  he  even  claims  that  a  iine  type 
of  lighter  draft  horse  can  be  obtained  by  another  cross.  Regard- 
ing this  ]\rr.   Pabst  writes : 

"  T  was  impressed  with  the  latter  fact  on  one  of  my  visits  to 
Paris,  where  I  had  an  opportunity  to  see  a  large  exhibit  of  the 


1()>S 


TiiK  Hkksi:   I.NDrsrin    in  Xkw   Youk  Statk 


horse  cjillcd  tlif  Uritcni.  This  is  ;iii  fular^rd  type  of  tho  Ilnck- 
iicy,  1111(1  iis  ('Xj)hiiii('(l  to  iiic  Wiis  hi-cxl  hy  d'ossiiii;'  the  Ilitckiicv 
iiorse  to  ii  (Irjit'ty  tyjjc  of  native  iii:ii"(\s.  'I'hoy  wore  a  vcrv  uiii- 
forni  lot,  I  should  jndi>,o  wcig'hod  1,400  pounds  and  over,  and 
were  as  fine  in  conformation  as  many  of  the  smaller  sized  Hack- 
neys. I  felt  that  the  fact  that  the  Hackneys  possessed  the  pre- 
potency to  eoaivey  their  individnality  to  sncli  a  degree  in  cross- 
breeding was  certainly  a   big  point  in  tbeir  favor." 

In  regard  to  the  rearing  of  the  young  stock,  special  attention 
is  paid  to  raising  them  under  conditions  most  favorable  to  the 


Fin.  44.     One  of  the  Stallions  at  Mr.  Driscoll's  TTa(  k- 
XEY  Horse  Farm,  Aibtrx,  Pa. 

iCourteuj  of  The  Field.") 

development  of  vigor  and  stamina,  ^^'ith  this  point  in  view,  they 
are  not  stabled  the  entire  year,  but,  except  during  the  worst 
months,  are  turned  out,  being  given  access  to  sheds  that  pi'otect 
them  from  rain  and  storms.  This  system  also  has  the  advantage 
of  being  most  economical,  as  one  man  can  look  after  from  sixty  to 
one  hundred  animals  when  managed  in  this  manner.  They  ai-e 
fed  oats,  mixed  hay,  alfalfa  and  corn.  The  brood  mares  are  fed 
grain  sparingly,  but  the  best  of  hay.  The  weanlings  are  halter- 
broken,  preferably  before  being  taken  from  their  mothers,  and  as 
yearlings  and  two-year-olds  are  wo.rked  from  four  to  six  weeks 
with  bitting  harness,  to  mouth  them.      As  three-year-olds  they  are 


Ha(  K.NKY    I>REEl)IX(;   IN    AmEKICA  lUU 

worked  in  harness  for  a  month  or  two.  so  that  by  the  time  they 
are  fonr  they  are  ready  for  the  finishing  touches. 

After  many  years  of  close  association  with  the  Hackney,  ]\Ir. 
Pabst's  opinion  of  it  as  a  generally  nseful  horse  might  be  of  in- 
terest.    He  writes : 

''  I  have  been  nsing  Hackneys  for  heavy  harness  nse,  riding, 
delivering  farm  products  to  the  station  four  miles  away  in  all 
kinds  of  weather,  and  also  for  lighter  farm  work,  and  I  don't 
know  of  a  horse  better  adapted  for  general  purposes.  I  have  bred 
trotters  for  many  years  and  tliey  have  no  stauncher  admirer. 
There  is  no.  better  horse  for  light  harness,  but  I  claim  and  know 
that  the  Hackney  is  second  to  none  for  heavy  harness  use.  To 
dwell  upon  their  show  qualities  is  superfluous,  as  they  have 
proven  their  ability  to  win  over  every  other  breed  beyond  a  ques- 
tion of  doubt." 


COACH    HORSES 

De  Voe  Meade 

Tnstnutor.  Department  of  Animal   Hushandrv,   Cornell  University,  Ithaca 

GENERAL    DESCKIPTIOX 

A  typical  coach  horse  stands  15-2  to  16 
luuids  and  weighs  from  1,000  to  1,250 
pounds.  He  shonld  have  hii>,]i  knee  and 
liock  action,  which  conies  from  breeding 
I'ather  than  from  artificial  means  of  de- 
velopment. He  is  not  required  to  have 
great  speed  nor  marked  powers  of  en- 
durance, but  must  move  fairly  fast  with 
much  ease  and  grace  of  carriage.  The 
coacher  must  be  very  fine  in  quality,  smooth 
and  symmetrical  in  all  of  his  outline,  and 
must  carry  his  head  and  tail  high.  The 
coacher  is  heavier,  smoother  and  more  stylish  than  the  road  horse, 
and  must  be  stylish  and  aristocratic  in  his  bearing  in  order  that 
he  mav  look  well  in  fine  harness  and  draw  handsome  carriaaes. 
The  knees  should  be  raised  high  and  the  feet  in  their  flight  should 
follow  the  circumference  of  a  circle  without  pause,  hesitation  or 
thrusting  foi'ward  as  they  approach  the  ground.  The  entire 
make-up  of  the  coacher  should  be  symmetrical,  bold,  refined, 
stylish,  and  the  bearing  aristocratic. 

THE   HACKNEY 

History 

This  breed  originated  in  Norfolk,  England,  and  is  the  result 
of  crossing  the  Thoroughbred  stallions  on  native  Norfolk  trotting 
mares,  the  latter  being  noted  for  great  speed  and  endurance,  par- 
ticularly under  the  saddle.  The  important  changes  in  the  de- 
velopment of  the  Thoroughbred  probably  began  with  the  horse 
known  as  the  Original  Shales,  foaled  in  1755.  This  horse  was 
undoul)tedly  sired  hy  T)lazp,  a  son  of  Flying  Childers,  and  out  of 

[110] 


Coach  Horses 


111 


a  stout  Xorfolk  mare.  Shales  was  but  four  generations  removed 
from  the  Darby  A.rabiau. 

Families  that  have  been  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the 
breed  are  the  Fireaways,  the  Denmarks,  and  the  Danegelds.  Dur- 
ing the  past  sixty  years  the  blood  of  Denmark  and  Danegeld  has 
been  of  the  greatest  importance.  Leading  sires  of  the  present 
time  are  Polonius,  Mathias,  Koyal    Danegelt  and  His  Majesty. 

The  Hackney  in  America  dates  back  to  1822  when  James 
Booth  of  Boston  imported    (Jary's)    Bellfounder  55,  commonly 


Fto.  4o.     Hackxey  Stalltox.  VOI.rXTEFR 

known  as  Imported  Bellfounder.  Bellfounder  was  the  sire  of  the 
Kent  mare,  dam  of  Hambletonian  10.  The  great  speed  in  the 
Hambletonian  family  of  trotters  is  regarded  as  tracing  back 
through  Bellfounder.  The  first  Hackney  stud  in  the  United 
States  was  established  at  Philadelphia  in  1883  by  A.  J.  Cassatt. 
Recent  breeders  and  importers  are  F.  C.  Stevens  of  Attica,  N.  Y., 
Eben  D.  Jordan  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Robert  Beith  of  Bowman- 
ville,  Ontario,  Canada. 


112  The  Hoi.-sk  Ixdistk-v  i.\  Xkw  Vouk  State 

( 'iKintclcri.sl irs 

'Die  typical  Hackney  is  a  coinpai-atively  short-leiiged,  compact, 
.sinoothly-tiiriied,  strong-huned  liorso  of  aristocratic  mien.  The 
l)reed  is  characterized  hy  a  full,  rounded  chest,  short  hack,  hmg 
level  and  Kroad  I'unip.  witli  a  most  ty])i(*al  coachy  cai'riaiic  ot  the 
neck  and  head.  The  graceful  cari'iage  and  perfect,  symmetrical, 
lines  of  the  Hackney  make  him  ])reeminently  adapted  to  carrying' 
tine  harness  and  to  drawing  handsome  rigs  in  parks  or  on  the 
boulevard. 

The  action  is  high,  round,  (piick,  elastic  and  regular,  not  only 
in  front  but  also  behind.  The  hocks  are  flexed'  and  extended  so 
as  to  correspond  with  the  "  trap])y  "'  action  of  the  knees. 

Recently  chestnut  with  white  markings  has  l)een  the  color 
most  in  demand.  Bays,  browns.  I'oans  and  blacks  are  also  ac- 
ceptable. The  most  desirable  height  for  the  Hackney  is  15-2 
to   IT)    •'!  hands. 

nmtt/ 

The  Hackney  as  a  breed  possesses  strong  pre})otency  and  is 
able  to  stamp  breed  and  individual  characteristics  upon  its  otT- 
spring.  He  is.  therefore,  well  adapted  for  mating  with  either 
Standardbred  or  Thoroughbi-ed  mares  for  'the  purpose  of  pro- 
ducing a  high-class  harness  or  saddle  horse.  The  mares  selected 
should  approximate  as  nearly  as  possible  the  Hackney  type  and 
the  offspring  from  the  mating  may  be  expected  to  j^ossess  natural, 
inherent  coach  action  which  may  be  further  perfected  by  shoeing 
and  training. 

Hejjislralton 

The  Hackney  is  promoted  in  the  United  States  by  the  Ameri- 
can Hackney  Horse  Society.  Gnrney  ('.  Gue  of  o08  West  9Tth 
St.,  New  York  City,  is  the  secretary  of  this  association.* 

FKEXCll   COACH 

History 
As  the  name  indicates,  this  breed  originated  in  France,  where 
it  is  known  as  the  Demi-Sang,  meaning  half-blood.     This  breed 
is  the  pi'odnct  of  a  cross  between  the  English  Thoroaighbred  and 


fSoc  article  on  the  llaeknoy  by  IJegiiuild  \'aii<lerbilt.  page  104. 


Coach  Horses 


native  mares  of  France  that  have  i'(.»nsideral)le  Arabian  and  other 
oriental  hlood  in  them.  The  use  of  English  sires  on  Normandy 
mares  renujved  a  certain  (k\aree  of  phiinness  and  coarseness  and 
at  the  same  time  increased  speed  and  quality. 

The  French  iiovernment  in  (U'der  to  promote  the  breedini;;  of  a 
superior  chiss  of  both  coach  and  draft  horses  has  made  three  dif- 
ferent :^talli(in  classes:  first,  stallions  owned  by  the  government, 


^  -*.->^^«ss.sr 


Fig.  40.     French  Coach  Stalliox.  Paladea. 

second,  approved  (U-  subsidized  stallions,  and  third,  authorized 
stallions.  The  French  law  since  1SS.">  has  prohibited  the  public 
use  of  stallions  not  conforming  to  these  standards.  Tt  is  said 
that  Thoroughbreds  have  not  been  used  in  the  breeding  of  French 
Coach  horses  since  1840. 

Characteristics 
This  l)reed  is  somewhat  variable  in  type.     The  breed  is  more 
rangy  in  ty]ie  than  the  Hackney,  an  upstanding  graceful,  free- 
movino-  horse.     Horses  of  this  l)ree(l  ranue  in  luMiibt  from  1  r)-2 


114  The  Hoksk  Ixdustry  in  Xew  York  Statk 

to  16  hands  and  weigh  1,200  to  1,400  pounds.  This  breed  is 
characterized  l.y  a  good  length  of  black,  a  long,  somewhat  arching 
neck,  and  a  long,  wide,  level  cronp.  The  trot  of  this  breed  is 
long  and  powerful  instead  of  high  and  trappy  like  the  Hackney. 
The  color  varies  through  different  shades  of  bay,  brown,  aiid 
black. 


IJtil 

The  French  Coach  is  suited  for  the  production  of  large  strong 
and  handsome  coach,  carriage  and  wagon  horses,  when  mated 
with  mares  that  are  possessed  of  suitable  conformation  and 
quality.  Suitable  mating  with  American  trotting-bred  stock  pro- 
duces a  superior  class  of  carriage  horse. 

Registration 
The  French   Coach   breed   is  promoted   by  the   French   Coach 
Horse  Society  of  America.      The  secretary  of  this  association  is 
Duncan  E.  Willett,  Oak  Park,  111. 

GERMAN    COACH 

History 
The  German  Coach  originated  in  Germany,  especially  the  north- 
western  part,   in   the  states  of  Hanover,   Oldenburg, \Schleswig- 
Holstein  and  in  the  district  of  East  Friesland.     The  coach  hors^'e 
breeds  of  Germany  have  been  formed  by  mating  native  mares  of 
Germany  with  horses  imported  from  the  Orient,  England,  Den- 
mark, and  other  important  horse  countries  of  the  world.     The 
breed  is  therefore  of  composite  origin.     Government  supervision 
of  horse  breeding  in  Germany  has  existed  for  centuries.     Laws 
were  passed  prohibiting  the  use  of  stallions  unless  they  had  passed 
a  satisfactory  government  inspection.     At  the  present  time  both 
the  government  and  agricultural  societies  promote  the  intelligent 
breeding  of  horses.     Animals  of  special  merit  are  awarded  prizes 
and  must  be  kept  in  the  country  for  a  stated  period  of  time. 

Characteristics 
Owing  to  the  conditions  existing  in  Germany  several  types  of 
German  Coach  hoisos  lun-o  arisen.     The  l)est  kiKn\ii  types  are  the 


Coach  Horses 


115 


Trakelmen,  the  Hanoverian.  Holstein.  Oldenburg,  and  East 
Friesland  liorses. 

The  Trakehnen  horse  has  a  good  disposition,  great  endurance 
and  a  strong,  ch>sely-coupled  back  and  loin.  This  is  the  lightest 
of  the  German  Coach  types. 

The  Hanoverian  has  strong  legs,  and  a  good  back,  which  is  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  carry  quite  heavy  loads.  Although  used  more 
for  draft  it  is  also  suitable  for  saddle  purposes. 

The  Oldenburg  is  the  heaviest  type.  They  stand  15-3  to  16-2 
hands  high  and  weigh  1.200  to  1,400  pounds.     These  horses  are 


Fig.  47.     Germax  Coach  Make,  Alejiania 

used  for  heavy  coach  and  as  farm  and  all-purpose  horses,  but  are 
not  used  under  the  saddle. 

The  Holstein  is  similar  in  size  and  weight  to  the  Hanoverian. 
Thev  have  aood  legs,  are  free  movers  and  are  suitable  both  for  rid- 
ing and  driving. 

The  East  Friesland  horse  is  about  the  same  size  as  the  Olden- 
burg and  is  practically  the  same,  since  they  are  bred  from  Olden- 
burg sires. 

In  height  the  breed  ranges  from  15-8  to  16-2  hands  and 
weighs  from  1,350  to   1,500  pounds.      The  color  does  not  vai-y 


1-^^  J 'If:  Jl<)i;sK  IxDisTiv'v  I.N   Xkw    Youk  Statk 

greatly,  hoino.  eithei-  hay,  brown  or  hlack.  Coarseness  is  not  nn- 
eoninion  to  the  breed.  Superior  folding  of  the  knees  and  hocks, 
which  is  characteristic  of  the  Hackney,  is  not  a  uniform  charac- 
teristic of  the  German  Coach. 

Ctlllti/ 
Mated  with  large,  strong,  sound  mares  the  liest  German  Coach 
horses   are   likely   to   produce   a    large   number  of  useful    wagon 
horses,  light  expressers  and  general   purpose  horses,  and  a   fair 
proportion  of  useful  coach  horses. 

Befiislrafion 
The  interests  of  the  (Jerman  Coach  are  advanced  in   United 
States  by  the  German  Hanoverian  and  Oldenburg  Coach  Horse 
Association  of  America.     Mr.  J.  Crouch  of  Lafayette,  Ind.,  is  the 
secretai'y  of  this  organization, 

C I.EVE]. AND  BAY 

1/  istori/ 
The  native  home  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  is  in  northeastern  Eni>'- 
land.  The  exact  origin  of  this  breed  is  very  obscui'e  and  nothing 
is  detinitely  known  regarding  it.  The  Cleveland  I]ay  was  early 
used  for  agricultural  and  general  utility  purposes.  Owing  to 
changes  in  economic  conditions  early  in  the  nineteenth  centui-y, 
and  again  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same,  the  breed  fell  into  dis- 
favor and  almost  went  out  of  existence.  The  Cleveland  Bay  in 
the  United  States  is  practically  a  total  failure.  There  is  no  promi- 
nent breedei'  advocating  the  mci-its  of  the  breed,  and  importations 
are  rarely  made. 

('haraclcristics 

The  color  is  always  bay,  either  light  or  dark,  with  black  legs, 
mane  aud  tail.  White,  except  a  small  star  in  the  forehead  or  a 
few  white  hairs  on  the  heel,  is  not  permissible  as  it  is  supposed 
to  indicate  foreign  blood.  The  breed  ranges  in  height  from  16-1 
to  16-3,  and  in  weight  tVom   1.2()()  to  1,550  pounds. 

The  Cleveland  Bay  ranks  among  the  largest  of  the  coachers,  but 
it  lacks  the  quality  and  action  of  the  other  coach  breeds.     The 


Coach  Hokses 


117 


118  The  Horse  Lndustkv  i.n  New  V(ihk  Staik 

action  is  strong  iuul  powerful  but  not  stylish.  Most  of  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  breed  lack  prepotency  f«i  j)ro(lucf'  (|uality.  and 
larii^ely  for  this  reason  they  have  failed  to  become  popular  in 
America. 

The  Cleveland  Bay  stallion  of  the  best  type  and  breeding  is 
prepotent  in  transmitting  his  color  markings  and  good  disposition 
to  his  progeny,  and  when  used  upon  common  mares  gets  a  fair 
proportion  of  light,  active  horses  for  general  purpose  work. 

Begistrafion 
The  interests  of  the  Cleveland  Bay  are  advanced  by  the  Cleve- 
land Bay  Society  of  America.     The  secretary  of  this  organization 
is  Mr.  R.  P.  Stericker,  of  Oconoanowoc,  Wis. 


ASSES    AND    MULES 
Dk.  C.  W.  Beodhead,  Moxtkose,  Pa. 

Farmers'   Institute  Lecturer 

THE  :\rrLE  akd  hi>'ny  defined 
Mule 

The  word  "mule"  signifies  a  hybrid;, 
that  is,  the  offspring  of  animals  belonging 
to  the  same  genus/ and  fertile  one  with  the 
other,  but  of  different  species.  Mules  or 
hybrids  are  uS'Ually  infertile  one  with 
iiiothe]',  and  are  always  incapable  of  pro- 
j);igat!ng  the  species  indefinitely.  As  now 
genera ly  accepted,  the  word  mule  is  used 
to  designate  tlie  offspring  of  the  jack  with 
the  mare.  They  have  been  known  and  bred 
since  the  time  of  remotest  history,  having  been  always  prized 
for  their  longevity,  sure-footedness,  and  ability  to  labor  in  ex- 
treme heat. 

Hinny 
The  hiuny  is  the  produce  of  a  she-ass  bred  to  a  horse.  They 
were  called  hinnus  by  the  Romans ;  hence  our  name  hinny.  They 
resemble  the  horse  more  than  the  ass,  just  as  the  nmle,  sprung 
from  the  mai-e  and  ass,  resembles  the  male  parent  most.  Hinnies 
are  handsome,  round-bodied  like  the  horse,  but  exceedingly  small, 
and  are  also  said  to  be  slow  and  more  difficult  to  manage  than 
the  mule  proper.  They  have,  therefore,  seldom  been  bred,  and 
have  generally  passed  into  disuse. 


THE    ASS 

The  wild  ass  is  said  to  have  been  indigenous  to  the  Arabian 
desert  and  the  countries  which  formed  the  Babylonian  Empire. 
Those  now  found  in  the  northern  region  of  India,  in  the  hill 
country,  are  said  to  be  so  fleet  that  no  horse  can  overtake  them. 
Four  different  races  seem  to  be  indicated  in  the  Hebrew  Scrip- 


120 


Jill-:  H<ii;si-;   Lndlsuiv  i.\  New   \'oi;k  S 


Asses  anu  Mii.ks  1^1 

tures,  where  they  are  named  Para.  Thajiiov.  Atou  aud  Orud. 
Scott's  version  of  the  description  by  Job  of  the  wild  ass  Para  is 
as  follows : 

Wild  tenant  of  the  waste.  1   semi  Mm  there 

Among  the  shrubs,  to  breathe  in  freedoms"  air. 

Swift  as  an  arrow  in  his  speed  he  tiies; 

Sees  from  afar  the  smoky  city  rise; 

Scorns  the  throng^l  street,  where  slavery  drags  her  load, 

The  loud-voiced  driver  and  liis  urging  goad: 

Where  e'er  the  mountain  waves  its  lofty  wood 

A  boundless  range,  he  seeks  his  verdant  food. 

ANTIQUITY    OF    THE    MULE 

Mules  were  used  and  much  prized  from  a  remote  antiquity,  and 
are  mentioned  both  in  sacred  and  profane  history.  They  were 
introduced  into  the  chariot  races  in  the  seventieth  Olympiad,  or 
about  500  years  before  the  Christian  era ;  and,  in  the  time  of  the 
Romans,  Q.  Axius,  a  Komaii  Senator,  according  to  Pliny,  paid 
400,000  sesterces  — or  more  than  $i:;,(M)()  —  for  a  male  ass  for 
the  stud.  He  also  states  that  the  best  female  asses  were  worth 
a  like  sum  to  breed  sires.  When  we  compnte  the  difference  m 
value  between  money  then  and  now,  the  price  was  greater  than 
that  now  paid  for  the  most  celebrated  racing-  and  trotting'  horses. 

BKEEU1AC;-.JACKS 

The  best  jacks  now  are  those  of  Spanish  origin.  They  are  large, 
strong-boned,  long-bodied,  and.  of  course,  long-eared.  Fig.  4'.» 
gives  a  good  representation  of  the  Foitou  ass,  an  animal  similar 
to  the  Spanish  jack. 

The  jack,  whatever  the  breed,  is  sensitive  to  cold  and  to  the 
influence  of  storms,  and,  if  not  warmly  housed  in  winter,  soon 
becomes  useless  and  disabled  from  rheumatic  and  other  afl'ections. 

Of  the  jacks  imported  at  an  early  date  into  America,  as  a 
present  to  General  Washington.  Mr.  Custis  has  written  as  follows: 

The  Roval  Gift  and  Knight  of  .Malta  were  sent  to  General  Washington  about 
the  vear  1787  The  (iift  with  a  jennet,  a  present  from  the  kmg  of  Spam,  and 
^aid"to  have  been  selected  from  the  royal  stud.  The  Knight,  I  believe,  was 
from  the  :»Iarquis  de  Lafavette,  and  was  shipped  from  Marseilles 

The  (xift  was  a  huge  and  ill-shapened  jack,  near  sixteen  hands  high,  with 
very  large  head,  clumsv  limbs  and  to  all  appearance  little  calculation  for 
active  service.  He  was"  of  a  gray  color,  probably  not  young  when  imported, 
and    died    at    Mount    Vernon,    l»ut    little    valued    for    his    mules,    winch    wen- 

iinwieldv  and  dull.  .  •    •  mi    ^i 

The  Knight  was  of  moderate  size,  clcan-liml.ed.  of  great  activity,  with  ttie 
fire  and  ferocity  of  a  tiger;  a  dark  brown  nearly  black  colour,  white  belly  and 


122 


The  Honsp:   LxDrsmv  ix   Xew   V 


oKK  State 


muzzle.  He  could  be  managed  only  by  one  groom,  and  that  always  at  consider- 
able personal  risk  He  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  was  so  infirm  towards  the 
a^t  as  to  require  lifting.  He  died  on  my  estate  in  Xew  Kent,  in  the  state  of 
West  Virginia,  about  1802  or  1803.  His  mules  were  all  active,  spirited  and 
serviceable,  and  from  stout  mares  attained  considerable  size. 

General  Washington  bred  a  favorite  jack  called  Compound,  from  the  cross 
of  Spanish  and  Maltese  —  the  Knight  upon  the  imported  Spanish  jennet 
iliis  jack  was  a  very  superior  animal;  very  long  bodied,  well  set,  with  all 
qualities  of  the  Knight  and  the  weight  of  the  Spanish.  He  was  the  sire  of 
some  of  the  finest  mules  at  .Mount  Vernon  and  died  as  a  result  of  an  accident. 
Ihe  General  bred  mules  from  the  best  of  his  coach  mares,  and  found  the  value 
of  the  mule  to  bear  a  just  proportion  to  the  value  of  the  dam.  Four  mules 
sold,  at  the  sale  of  his  effects,  for  upwards  of  $800,  and  two  more  pairs  at 
upwards  of  $400  each  pair.  Of  one  pair  of  these  mules  each  was  nearly 
sixteen  hands  high.  -^ 

From  these  jacks  a  compound  breed  was  produced,  that,  when  bred  to  laro-e 
mares,  was  unexcelled  for  size  and  activity.  *' 

The  breeding  of  jacks  and  jennets  (as  the  female  of  the  ass 
is  called)  is  confined  to  bnt  few  hands.  These  breeding  studs 
are  mostly  located  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  though  some  are 


Fig.  oO.  A  Good  Farm  Team,  Five  or  Six  Years  oi.j,,  (  .,,miau  jih 
OwNER^$600  IN  THE  Spring.  They  Are  Iron  Gray  and  Are  Built 
VERY  Solid,  Adapted  to  Any  Kind  of  Farm  Work 

found  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri.  Up  to  the  time 
of  the  Civil  War  the  breeding  of  this  stock  was  an  important  in- 
dustry, the  jacks  produced  being  distributed  for  service  all  over 


Asses  and  Mules  123 

the  southern  and  western  states.  Since  the  war,  with  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  great  breeding  studs,  the  industry  has  languished, 
owing  to  the  decreased  demand  for  mules.  A  new  impetus,  how- 
ever, has  given  rise  to  the  breeding  of  jacks  again  in  considerable 
numbers  in  the  South,  and  this  branch  of  husbandry  will  un- 
doubtedly again  assume  more  than  its  original  importance,  for 
the  agricultural  interests  of  that  section  are  steadily  growing,  and 
a  constant  improvement  is  noted  in  the  quality  and  numbers  of 
the  live  stock. 

What  the  jacks  should  be  may  be  seen  in  the  illustration 
(Fig.  49  )  of  the  Poitou  ass,  a  modification  of  the  best  form  of  the 
Spanish  jack.  Fig.  50  shows  the  best  form  of  mule.  Note  the 
manner  of  trimming  (roaching)  the  mane  and  tail. 

LONGEVITY    OF    THE    MULE 

The  longevity  of  the  mule  is  proverbial.  It  was  a  common  say- 
ing during  the  Civil  War  that  "mules  never  died."  They  might 
sometimes  be  knocked  over  by  a  shot,  but  if  one  ever  died  a 
natural  death  the  army  wags  refused  to  credit  or  record  the  fact. 

Pliny  gives  an  account  of  one  taken  from  Greacian  histoiy 
that  was  eighty  years  old,  and,  though  past  labor,  followed  others 
that  were  carrying  materials  to  build  the  temple  of  Minerva  at 
Athens,  and  seemed  to' wish  to  assist  them.  This  so  pleased  the 
people  that  they  permitted  him  to  have  free  egress  to  the  grain 
market.  Dr.  Rees  mentions  two  that  were  seventy  years  old  in 
England.  ^Ir.  P.  S.  Skinner  says:  ''I  saw,  myself,  in  the  West 
Indies,  a  mule  whose  owner  assured  me  was  forty  years  old,  per- 
form his  task  in  a  cane  mill;""  and  adds,  "I  now  own  a  mare 
mule  twenty-five  years  old  that  I  have  had  in  constant  work 
twenty -one  years,  and  can  discover  no  diminution  of  her  powers. 
She  has  within  a  year  past  often  taken  upwards  of  a  ton  weight 
in  a  wagon  to  Boston,  a  distance  of  more  than  five  miles." 

A  man  in  my  neighborhood  has  owned  a  very  large  mule 
about  fourteen  years  that  cannot  be  less  than  twenty-eight  years 
old.  He  informed  me,  a  few  days  since,  that  he  could  not  per- 
ceive the  least  failure  in  him,  and  would  not  exchange  him  for 
any  farm  horse  in  the  country.  And  I  have  just  been  informed, 
from  a  source  entitled  to  perfect  confidence,  that  a  highly  respec- 
rablo  iientlenian   and   eminent   agricnlturist,   near  Centerville,  on 


1^-J  'I'lIK     lIoKSK     I.XDISTUV     1  .\     XeW     VoKK    StATE 

the  eastern  shore  of  iMaryJand,  owns  a  mule  that  is  thirtv-fi 
years  old,  as  capable  of  labo.i'  as  at  any  former  period. 


VALUE    OF    MULES    FOK    LABOK 

It  is  beyond  dispute  that  mules  will  continue  to  labor  for  at 
least  double  the  period  of  the  usefulness  of  the  horse.  They 
endure  extreme  heat  better,  but  ai'e  pinched  with  cold.  It  is  a 
mistake  to  suppose  that  the  mule  will  subsist  on  far  less  food 
than   the   horse.      Tn   proportion   to   size,   tlioy   re(|uir("   about   the- 


Fig.  51.  The  Same  Pair  as  Showx  in  Fig.  .30  PvEady  for  a  Drive  to 
Towx  AT  a  Good  Gait 
same  quantity,  but,  weight  for  weight,  they  will  draw  a  heavier 
load.  Owing-  to  the  fact  that  they  take  little  notice  of  what  is 
going  on  about  them,  they  do  not  fret  and  seldom  scare.  As  pack 
animals,  they  are  far  superior  to  the  horse;  while,  in  sure-footed- 
ness  and  freedom  from  disease,  no  farm  animal  except  the  goat 
can  compete  with  them.  The  impression  that  mules  can  get 
along  with  little  or  no  care,  and  that  thev  must  be  turned  out  in 


AsiSKS    AM)    Mll.ES  125 

the  winter  to  shift  for  themselves,  has  led  mauy  people  ti>  be 
disappointed  in  their  use.  In  summer,  when  a  horse  would  seek 
the  shade,  we  have  seen  mules  lie  prone  in  the  sun  and  enjoy 
the  heat.  For  ordinary  farm  labor  and  all  teaming-  purposes, 
mules  become  more  valuable  as  we  go  south  of  40  degrees.  As 
we  proceed  north  they  become  less  and  less  serviceable,  and  few 
are  found  iiL  use  north  of  45  degrees. 

MILES    AKK    \OT    VICIOUS 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  the  mule  is  naturally  vicious. 
This  is  a  mistake.  He  is  resentful  and  never  forgets  an  injury. 
If  subjected  to  a  long  course  of  ill  usage,  he  at  length  becomes 
vicious.  On  the  other  hand,  no  animal  is  more  susceptible  to 
kindness,  or  will  exert  himself  more  strenuously  for  a  kind  master. 
Nevertheless,  the  mule  must  have  a  master — -one  firm  and  yet 
kind.  The  mule,  as  some  of  our  readers  probably  know,  has  a 
perfect  means  of  otfense  and  defense  —  his  heels.  These  he  knows 
how  to  use  to  far  better  purpose  than  does  the  horse.  They  are 
not  used,  however,  except  under  the  impulse  of  fear  or  revenge, 
if  treated  kindly  the  mule  is  at  once  amiable,  tractable  and  willing 
to  perform  any  due  amount  of  labor.  ()n  the  other  hand,  if  ill 
used  lie  becomes  sullen,  vicious  and  often  balky  in  the  extreme. 

BKEEDIXG    OF    MULES 

In  the  breeding  of  mules,  as  of  all  other  animals,  attention 
must  be  paid  to  the  use  for  which  they  are  intended.  If  for 
])acking  in  the  mountains,  small  compact  mules,  such  as  are 
bred  from  small  tine  JSpanish  jacks,  are  retjuired.  These  are  at 
once  agile  and  sure-footed.  For  work  on  southern  plantations 
medium-sized  mules  nnist  be  sought.  These  are  bred  from  mares 
of  ordinary  size,  by  good-sized  jacks.  In  breeding  mules  for  the 
road  and  for  heavy  teaming,  large  roomy  mares  are  used.  These 
are  served  with  the  largest  jacks,  and,  at  three  years  old,  when 
well  matched,  command  $300  to  $600  a  span. 

The  treatment  of  the  mares  and  of  the  mule  colts  should  be 
precisely  like  that  of  the  horse  colt  and  its  dam.  The  colts  should 
be  handled  when  young  and  should  be  gently  treated  and  made 
completely  subordinate  to  the  will  of  the  master.     At  two  years 


120  The  House  IrvDusTuy  in  JSIkw   \  (jick  State 

old  they  may  be  broken.  They  should  be  carefully  harnessed, 
without  frightning  them,  and  hitched  to  a  strong  wagon,  when 
they  will  generally  move  off  without  much  difficulty.  Thereafter 
they  may  do  light  work  until  they  are  four  years  old,  when  they 
may  be  put  to  labor.  Their  dentition  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
horse,  and  the  rule  for  telling  their  ages  is  identical  with  advice 
for  that  animal. 

BREEDING 

Mules  being  hybrids  may  be  bred  from  mares  not  suitable  for 
breeding  horses,  as  mules  are  not  so  liable  to  take  on  the  defects 
of  both  sire  and  dam,  such  as  ring  bone,  spavins,  and  many  other 
hereditary  defects.  Any  young  man  starting  in  the  farming  busi- 
ness can  soon  have  a  good  team  by  using  a  jack  for  the  sire  on 
such  dams  as  are  not  fitted  for  breeding  horses,  on  account  of 
the  latter's  susceptibility  to  inherit  certain  defects,  I  want  to 
emphasize  this  point :  the  better  the  dam,  the  better  the  mule. 
This  holds  as  good  in  mule  breeding  as  in  that  of  cattle. 

It  is  said  that  the  mule  does  not  need  as  much  care  as  the 
horse.  That  may  be  true ;  but  they  do  respond  to  good  treatment 
as  well  as  the  horse,  and  will  show  it  quicker  and  prove  their 
appreciation  by  their  looks  and  actions. 

Mules  will  thrive  on  coarser  fodder  than  the  horse,  such  as 
browsing  of  weeds,  berry  briars,  and  many  things  found  in 
pasture  that  even  cattle  or  horses  will  not  tt)uch.  A  good  roll 
every  day  is  as  necessary  as  feed  or  water,  and,  when  the  day's 
work  is  done,  they  want  their  freedom  for  a  few  minutes  in  a 
yard  where  they  lie  do\\^i  and  roll  and  shake  themselves.  Corn 
and  whole  oats  make  an  ideal  feed  for  the  mule.  Mule  colts 
should  be  weaned  from  the  mare  the  same  as  horse  colts,  at  four 
or  five  months  of  age. 

CASTRATION 

Castrating  of  mules  should  be  done  at  an  early  age;  one  year 
old  is  a  good  time,  as  they  grow  up  more  even  fore  and  hind.  It 
is  all  the  better  if  done  when  the  colt  is  running  with  the  mare. 
If  everything  is  visible  there  is  no  more  risk  with  the  mule  colt 
than  with  the  horse,  but  the  same  precautions  should  be  taken. 


AsaEs  A2sD  Mules 


127 


•  128  liiK   ll()i;si..   J.xDi.sTia'   i.\    Xkw    \'()Kk  SrArK 

ROACHIXG   AM)    T  FJI  M  NflXfi 

Koaching  and  tninining  the  mane  and  tail  sliuuid  be  done  regu- 
larly, as  it  gives  them  a  better  appearance,  but  always  leave  a 
nice  switch  on  the  tail  for  tly  service. 

SIK)EI.N(;     MULES 

Mules  may  be  worked  on  the  farm  without  shoeing.  If  they 
are  not  shod  at  too  early  an  age  the  shape  of  their  feet  is  such 
that  they  will  grip  the  earth  and  not  slip,  providing  the  ground 
is  not  filled  with  Hat  and  sharp  stones. 

The  sandy  soils,  and  the  river  bottom  where  the  stones  are 
round,  do  not  wear  of!'  the  feet,  but  it  is  advisable  to  shoe  if 
they  show  signs  of  crimpling  when  pulling  on  the  road.  The 
mule's  feet,  being  upi'iglit  when  the  colt  is  l)orn,  should  not  be 
changed  by  shoeing,  but  should  be  left  as  natural  as  possible. 
Do  not  cut  the  heel  too  much  so  to  get  the  horse  sha])e,  as  many 
shoers  do.  This  results  in  too  much  pull  on  the  heel  tendons 
from  the  bottom  of  the  foot,  which  will  cause  ankle  cocking  and 
stumbling.  Kindness  should  be  used  in  the  beginning  as  they 
never  forget  anything,  either  good  or  bad  treatment. 


THE   HORSE   ON   NEW  YORK  STATE   FARMS 

Dr.  ]\I.  Hamilton,  Delhi,  jST.  Y. 

Veterinarian  and   Farmers'  Institute  Lecturer- 

^^gB^^  Since  the  clearing  of  the  forests  by  our 

^^^mL>  forefathers  the  horse  has  held  a  unique 

If  '^'^k         position  on  the  farms  of  jSTew  York  State. 

The  pioneer  settler,  often  living  long- 
distances  from  markets,  was  obliged  to 
haul  the  products  of  the  farm  over  long, 
tedious  journeys  to  exchange  them  for  the 
necessities  of  life.  To  him  the  horse  held 
second  place  only  to  the  family  circle. 
The  horse  removed  the  stumps,  tilled  the 
first  acres  of  virgin  soil,  carried  his  children  to  school,  his  family 
to  church.  ISTaturally  the  farm  boy  of  today  inherits  a  love  and 
admiration  for  the  horse.  His  ambition  to  rear,  feed,  and  intelli- 
gently train  one  or  more  colts  is  a  laudable  one,  developing  self- 
reliance,  self-control  and  an  interest  in  farm  life. 

The  requirements  of  the  horse  in  the  earlier  days,  when  rail- 
roads were  few  and  the  motorcycle,  trolley  and  auto  were  unheard 
of,  were  quite  different  from  those  of  today.  The  horse  in  those 
days  offered  about  the  only  means  of  conveyance  for  the  jSTew 
York  State  farmer.  Consequently,  a  horse  of  medium  size,  not  so 
large  as  to  interfere  seriously  with  his  road  work,  yet  large 
enough  to  perform  the  ordinary  farm  labor,  was  considered  the 
ideal  or  general-purpose  horse.  The  Morgan  horse  filled  this 
place  admirably. 


STANDAEDBRED  AND  ROAD  HORSES 

After  the  Civil  "War,  farmers  of  this  state  became  very  en- 
thusiastic over  the  Standardbred  trotting  horse.  Practically,  just 
one  requirement  was  necessary  to  make  a  Standardbred  stallion 
idolized  by  a  whole  community,  and  that  was  speed.  Xo  matter 
how  inferior  in  size  and  conformation,  no  matter  how  sulky  and 
9  [129] 


130  The  House  TxBrsTKY  tx  ISTew  Yotik  State 

mean  of  disposition,  it  was  his  record  as  a  trotter  tliat  determined 
largely  whether  he  should  he  nsed  as  a  hrceder.  ]\Ineh  that  had 
been  gained  through  the  preceding  years  to  establish  an  ideal  farm 
horse  was  lost,  for  farmers  bred  their  ideal  farm  mares  indiscrim- 
inately to  the  stallions  that  had  the  most  speed. 

The  Standardbred  trotting  horse  of  quality  is  to  be  recom- 
mended when  bred  to  mares  of  his  own  type.  It  is  poor  policy, 
however,  to  breed  a  large  farm  mare  to  a  little,  runty  stallion, 
with  nothing  to  recommend  him  but  speed.  The  results  of  this 
injudicious  breeding  are  seen  at  the  present  time  in  the  large 
number  of  horses  that  are  inferior  in  size,  color,  temperament, 
soundness  and  c(Uifonnation.  liaising  trotters  is  all  right  for 
pleasure,  but  the  average  farmer  would  better  wait  until  the  mort- 
gage is  paid  and  he  has  a  good-sized  bank  account  before  com- 
mencing activity  along  that  line. 

With  the  increasing  facilities  for  travel,  the  road  horse  is  be- 
coming less  necessary;  and  the  demand  has  increased  for  the 
large,  strong,  active  horse  of  drafty  conformation.  Moreover,  the 
growing  importance  of  deeper  and  better  tillage  of  the  soil,  to- 
gether with  the  increasing  amount  of  heavy  farm  machinery,  such 
as  the  binder,  sulky  plow,  corn  harvester  and  many  others,  require 
horses  of  weight. 

VARIABLE  WEIGHT  FOR  TTTE  FAR:\r  ITORSE 

Very  wide  differences  of  opinion  exist  among  farmers  as  to 
what  constitutes  an  ideal  weight  for  a  farm  team  under  present 
farming  conditions.  Some  individuals  prefer  the  mettle,  spirit 
and  nervous  temperament  that  is  characteristic  of  small  horses; 
while  others  choose  the  strength,  docility  and  dependence  of  a 
drafter.  Conditions  on  various  farm.s  also  differ,  those  having 
rough,  heavy  land  where  nnich  plowing  must  be  done  requiring 
heavier  horses  than  farms  composed  of  lighter  soils.  Moreover, 
horses  vary  greatly;  and  the  reader  has  no  doubt  owned,  or  at 
least  known,  horses  weighing  only  1,000  to  1,100  pounds  that 
endure  more  hard  farm  work  and  haul  heavier  loads  than  some 
horses  weighing  1,400  pounds  or  oven  more.  This  is  not  an 
argument  to  prove  that  the  small  horse  excels  the  big  one  on  the 
farm;  but  it  does  prove  that  a  small  horse  of  good  shape  and 


The  Horse  on  Xew  ^'ok'k  Statk  pAims  131 

build  is  superior  to  many  drafters,  especially  when  the  main 
object  of  the  breeder  was  to  produce  a  horse  of  great  weight, 
regardless  of  qnality.  The  greatest  demand  is  for  horses  weigh- 
ing from  1,100  to  l,(iOO  ponnds,  the  most  popular  weight  being 
around  1,400  pounds  when  in  good  working  condition.  Very 
often  a  1,000-pound  horse  when  shipped  from  the  West  will 
normally  weigh  only  about  1,400  pounds  after  having  been 
worked  for  several  months. 

POTXTS    OF    EXrELT-EXCE 

As  the  majority  of  new  horses  required  to  replenish  tlie  farms 
of  the  state  each  year  are  imported  from  other  states  and  then 
purchased  from  horse  dealers,  1  should  like  to  mention  a  few 
points  which  I  consider  every  farmer  should  be  able  to  judge  be- 
fore making  the  purchase.  If  you  are  unable  to  judge  the  age 
of  a  horse,  by  all  means  employ  a  man  who  can.  Thousands  of 
old  horses  are  being  shipped  into  this  state  each  year  and  sold  for 
high  prices  to  the  farmers  for  seven-  eight-  and  nine-year-olds. 
The  art  of  burning  with  a  hot  iron,  or  grinding  with  files  little 
holes  on  the  wearing  surface  of  the  front  teeth  to  make  them 
appear  like  natural  cups,  and  thus  deceive  the  unsuspecting  cus- 
tomer, is  being  practiced  extensively.  Xature  surrounds  the  cup 
with  a  very  thin  layer  of  white  enamel.  Xice,  even  cavities  or 
cups  not  surrounded  by  enamel  should  arouse  our  suspicion  of 
fraud. 

The  horse  sliould  have  a  strong,  muscular  appearance  with  a 
certain  amount  of  refinement  and  quality,  indicating  that  every 
pound  of  weight  is  necessary  for  his  development  and  usefulness. 
Of  what  use  is  a  hundred  pounds  of  extra  weight  carried  on  the 
head  and  neck  or  another  hundred  pounds  of  unnecessary  connec- 
tive tissue,  which  predisposes  to  stocking  of  the  limbs  and  lym- 
phangitis '.  Plenty  of  weight  in  muscle,  bone  and  tendons  placed 
in  proportionate  amounts  in  the  right  places  is  essential.  I'hat  is 
the  reason  why  some  of  our  well-bred  smaller  types  of  horses  are  so 
powerful. 

A  good  sized  barrel  or  alxlomen  shows  that  tlie  horse  has  plenty 
of  room  for  his  dinner  and  indicates  a  good  feeder.  A  well-sprung 
rib,  wdiich  is  one  that  extends  well  out  froin  the  backbone  and  well 


132  TiiK   lI(»i;sK   I.NiusTKV  IN  New  York  State 

down  towards  the  ground,  indicates  that  the  liorse  has  a  hirge  heart 
and  hmg  capacity,  as  well  as  ample  space  for  the  digestive  ap- 
paratns.  Select  those  with  level  top  lines  and  short  hacks,  heavily 
ninscled  over  the  loins;  that  is,  the  muscles  hetween  the  hips  and 
kidneys  shonld  he  hroad  and  appear  full  and  prominent.  A  de- 
pression in  front  of  the  hij)s  indicates  hick  of  endnrance  and 
weakness  of  the  m.ost  serious  nature.  Many  drafters  have  very 
steep  rumps,  but  choose  those  that  ai'e  more  nearly  leveh.  Many 
of  the  hest  ones  have  a  strong-  dock.  The  size  of  the  head  and 
neck  should  be  proportionate  to  the  rest  of  the  body.  A  rather 
small,  lean  head,  smoothly  attached  to  a  well-arched  neck  gives  the 
drafter  a  certain  amount  of  style  and  digiiity  that  we  all  admire. 
Ample  width  between  full  prominent  eyes  and  nicely  placed  ears 
of  medium  size  signify  intelligence  and  a  good  disposition,  r.ong, 
sloping  shoulders,  on  account  of  allowing  greater  freedom  of  mo- 
tion and  preventing  an  undue  amount  of  concussion,  are  'much 
preferred  to  straight,  upright  shoulders.  This  is  a  very  important 
consideration,  especially  if  we  expect  a  considerable  amount  of 
work  at  the  trot.  The  slope  of  the  pastern  (the  space  between  the 
hoof  and  fetlock)  has  an  essential  bearing  on  the  amount  of  road 
work  a  drafter  can  perform.  Short,  straight  pasterns,  while  they 
may  appear  stronger,  are  often  the  cause  of  ringbones,  sidebones, 
and  various  foot  lamenesses ;  whereas  a  pastern  of  moderate  length, 
sloping  at  an  angle  of  about  forty -five  degrees,  renders  the  jar  or 
concussion  on  the  parts  below  much  less  severe. 

THE    LI.MDS    .VXD    FF.E'I' 

The  cannons  (the  bone  and  tendons  between  the  fetlock  and  the 
joint  above)  should  be  short  and  wide  in  front  and  extend  well- 
back.  They  should  l)e  flat  and  appear  free  from  all  surplus  tissue. 
Hence,  the  old  idea  that  the  round,  stocky  leg  lacks  quality  is  true. 
It  is  not  the  bone  or  tendons,  but  an  excessive  amount  of  con- 
nective tissue  and  a  thick  skin,  that  gives  it  its  round  ajipearance. 
As  the  front  feet  have  to  support  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  weight 
of  the  body,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  trouble  is  within  or 
around  the  foot  with  75  per  cent  of  the  horses  that  are  lame 
forward. 

The  quality  of  the  hoof  can  usually  be  judged  by  the  quality 


The  Hokse  on  New  York  State  Farms  133 

of  the  hair  around  the  top  of  the  hoof.  Hough,  coarse,  kinky  hair 
means  poor,  coarse  and  In-ittle  hoofs :  while  if  the  hair  has  a  fine, 
smooth,  glossy  texture  it  indicates  that  the  hoofs  are  of  the  same 
quality  and  will  stand  the  wear  much  better.  The  foot  should  be 
of  good  size  with  a  dense  heavy  wall  that  is  free  from  ridges  and 
roughness.  The  soles  should  l)e  thick  and  firmly  attached  to  the 
wall.  The  frog  should  be  large  and  wide  and  extend  well  down. 
The  bars  should  be  prominent  and  extend  well  back. 

The  weakest  part  of  the  hind  limbs  is  the  hock  joint.  Un- 
doubtedly, with  TT)  per  cent  of  the  horses  that  are  lame  behind, 
the  trouble  is  located  in  or  around  the  hock  joint.  The  entire  joint 
shoTild  be  large  and  wide  in  front,  extending  well  back,  and  should 
present  a  flat  appearance,  with  its  irregTilar  shape  distinctly  out- 
lined and  free  from  puffiness. 

SLIGHT     ^OX-UEKKDITAKY  UXSOUXDXESS  XOT  A  BAR  TO  FARM   WORK 

Often  times  unsound  horses  can  be  used  to  advantage  on  the 
farm.  We  often  reject  a  horse  for  some  trifling  unsoundness,  as 
a  splint,  wind  puft"  or  wire  cut,  and  accept  one  that  is  apparently 
sound,  but  with  such  poor  conformation  that  he  is  predisposed  to 
unsoundness  when  put  to  hard  labor.  Sound,  serviceable  horses 
can  frequently  bo  purchased  25  per  cent  or  more  below  their 
actual  vahie.  City  horses  that  have  corns,  sidebones,  etc.,  caused 
from  continual  concussion  on  city  pavements,  often  make  sound, 
serviceable  horses  for  farm  work.  It  is  not  usually  economical  to 
l)uy  horses  that  have  an  incurable  lameness,  as  the  pain  caused 
by  the  lameness  makes  them  hard  keepers. 

Some  farmers  do  not  keep  enough  horses  to  do  their  work  m 
season  without  overworking  them.  ^^lany  farmers,  however,  keep 
too  many  horses,  and  often  are  more  careful  of  them  than  they 
are  of  the  members  of  their  own  family.  It  is  not  infrequent  to 
see  the  children  walking  to  town  to  an  occasional  party  or  to 
church,  while  the  father  has  several  horses  standing  idle  in  the 
stable.  Let  the  boys  and  girls  take  a  pleasure  trip  with  the  horse 
occasionally,  and  you  will  do  more  to  keep  them  on  the  old  farm 
than  by  any  other  single  thing. 


THE  BEST  HORSE  FOR  THE  FARMER  TO  BREED 

J.  11.   S.  JoiiJSSTOA'E,  Chicago,  111. 
Author  of  "  The  Jlorse  Book  " 

It  is  beyond  doubt  that  the  exportation 
of  so  many  horses  for  service  in  the 
artillery  branches  of  the  British,  French 
and  Italian  armies  will  very  materially 
inlluence  the  demand  and  supply  in  our 
equine  trade  for  many  years  —  perhaps 
for  all  time  to  come  during  which  a  horse 
market  may  exist  on  any  large  scale. 

It  is  peculiar,  but  nevertheless  true, 
that  the  majority  of  our  most  useful  horses 
in  town  and  country  have  for  many  years  been  bred  haphazard. 
Xo  one  denies  that,  taken  by  and  large  all  over  this  country  — 
on  city  pavement  and  in  the  farmer's  field  —  by  far  the  most 
useful  and  generally  used  type  of  horse  has  for  a  long  time  been 
the  chunk,  weighing  from  1,200  to  1,500  pounds.  ]\lost  of 
them  are  and  always  have  been  the  get  of  pure-bred  draft 
stallions.  Previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  stallion  importing 
business,  and  the  consequent  pure-bred  draft  horse  breeding  busi- 
ness in  this  country,  the  chunk,  as  he  is  universally  described 
today,  was  not  known  in  North  America.  To  be  sure  there  were 
stockily  built  little  horses  of  the  same  shape  and  much  lighter 
weight,  but  they  were  more  on  the  cob  than  on  the  chunk  order. 

When  the  importation  of  British  and  French  draft  stallions 
began,  there  were  no  large  mares  with  which  to  mate  them.  As 
a  result  the  progeny  was  of  medium  poundage,  but  considerably 
heavier  than  the  maternal  parent  stock.  As  cross  after  cross 
of  draft  blood  was  added,  it  became  possible  to  produce  horses 
of  real  draft  size  —  from  1,700  to  2,000  pounds  —  but  to  this 
day,  the  same  preponderance  of  chunks  exists.  Only  a  very  few 
of  the  colts  begotten  by  any  ton  drafter  ever  exceed  the  chunk  size. 
Hence  it  follows  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  chunks  bred  in  this 
country  have  not  been  what  they  had  a  right  to  be.  Sired  by 
stallions    weighing    from    1,800    to    2,000    pounds,    and    from 

[134] 


The  Best  House  for  the  Fakmeu  to  Bkeed  135 

ordinary  farm  luares  weighing  from  1,200  to  1,400  pounds,  the 
resulting  foals,  if  properly  fed  in  their  youth,  have  every  right  to 
attain  a  poundage  considerably  greater  than  they  have  as  a  rule 
developed. 

IMPOETANCE   OF   PKOl'Eli  FEEDING    EARLY    IX    LIFE 

The  American  farmer,  however,  has  with  few  exceptions  failed 
to  recognize  the  necessity  for  feeding  his  young  horses  well  during 
their  first  two  seasons  -^  especially  during  the  first.  Hence  the 
generalized  use  of  the  pure-hred  draft  stallion  has  given  us  the 
chunk  as  the  commonest  of  all  the  horses  bred  on  the  farms  of 
this  country. 

Feed  is  the  great  determining  factor  so  far  as  the  horse  of 
draft  blood  is  concerned.  I  was  the  first  to  formulate  the  now 
well-understood  postulate  that  a  horse  makes  one-half  or  more 
than  one-half  of  his  ultimate  growth  during  the  first  year  of  his 
life,  and  hence  any  breeder  who  wishes  to  rear  horses  of  true 
draft  size  must  not  only  use  the  right  sort  of  parent  stock,  but 
must  have  his  foals  weighing  from  1,000  to  1,200  pounds  when 
365  days  old.  In  just  so  far  as  that  mark  is  missed  will  the 
animalfall  short  of  being  a  real  drafter.  Proverbially  averse  to 
feeding  their  foals  grain  while  sucking  their  dams,  and  with 
any  decent  liberality  during  the  ensuing  six  months  of  cold 
weather,  most  foals  l^y  draft  stallions  out  of  common  farm  mares 
weigh  from  600  to  800  pounds  at  one  year  old,  and  not  much  more 
at  two  years  than  they  should  have  weighed  at  one,  if  true  draft 
size  had  been  the  object  sought.  That  is  why  we  have  never 
raised  more  heavy  horses  —  the  farmers  have  not  fed  the  foals 
and  yearlings  so  as  to  develop  a  sufficient  avoirdupois.  They 
have  not,  in  the  main,  desired  very  heavy  horses  either  to  work 
on  their  land  or  to  sell. 

UNIFORMITY  OF  TYPE  AND  SIZE  DESIRABLE 

It  follows  then  that  if  the  great  majority  of  our  most  useful 
horses  have  come  to  us  in  this  manner,  resulting  from  the  use 
of  big  stallions  on  smaller  mares  and  an  insufficient  scheme  of 
feeding,  there  is  room  for  an  effort  to  supply  this  chunk  of  uni- 
form shape,  size  and  excellence.     Personally  I  have  watched  the 


136  The  IIoksio  Industry  in  New  York  State 

inspectors  for  the  British  army  work  over  a  vast  immber  of 
horses  of  the  so-called  gumier  type.  These  so-called  gunners  — 
really  just  chunks  —  have  been  drawn  from  the  farms  of  the 
Middle  West  —  or  at  least  the  best  of  them  —  and  they  indicated 
for  the  most  part  the  sort  of  breeding  described.  As  already 
noted  the  inspectors'  selections  have  weighed  from  1,200  to 
1,500  pounds,  but  the  pattern  has  been  very  largely  the  same  — 
a  close-made,  short-legged,  strong  horse,  with  good  straight  action 
and  plenty  of  bone;  in  short,  a  chunk  with  two  good  ends,  a 
deep  middle  and  good  legs  and  feet. 

Style  and  extravagant  action,  speed,  extra  good  looks  and  flesh 
have  brought  no  premium.  Providing  the  animal  filled  the  bill 
as  to  height,  weight  and  general  type,  he  was  accepted  and  paid 
for  with  the  same  amount  of  money  that  secured  individuals 
that  in  former  years  would  have  brought  from  $50  to  $75  more 
on  the  open  market.  This  foreigii  army  demand  has  been  a 
great  leveller  of  prices.  It  has  paid  the  same  for  a  gelding  weigh- 
ing 1,200  pounds  as  it  has  for  a  mare  weighing  1,450  pounds 
and  actually  worth  twice  as  much  money ;  which  brings  us  to 
the  crux  of  the  situation. 

THE    EUROPEAN    DEMAND 

Ever  since  last  August  this  foreign  army  demand  has  been  the 
mainstay  of  the  horse  trade.  First  in  the  field,  the  British  have 
been  the  best  and  largest  consumers.  They  have  insisted  on  taking 
none  but  good  horses  —  high-class  chunks  with  weight  and  sub- 
stance, strong  bone,  perfectly  sound,  from  five  to  ten  years  old  — 
sometimes  as  high  as  twelve  years, —  and  they  have  taken  them 
wherever  that  sort  was  offered.  Naturally  they  got  the  most  of 
them  in  the  Middle  West,  and  they  have  about  licked  the  platter 
clean.  ^loreover,  they  have  taken  mares  whenever  they  could 
get  them,  which  is  unfortunate.  I  know  from  personal  obser- 
vation and  enumeration  that  more  than  half  of  the  best  animals 
they  have  taken  have  been  mares.  I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying 
that  of  the  entire  purchases  of  gunners  during  the  present  year, 
by  the  British  inspectors,  not  less  than  65  per  cent  have  been 
females,  and  of  the  best  half  of  the  entire  number  bought,  not 
less  than  85  per  cent  have  been  mares.     I  do  not  know  whether 


The  Best  Horse  for  the  Farmer  to  Breed  137 

sex  lias  anything  to  do  with  it  or  not,  bnt  whenever  any  extra 
good  bunch  of  accepted  gunners  has  been  seen,  only  a  few  proved 
to  be  geldings. 

The  truth  of  the  matter  is  that  this  foreign  demand  for  so- 
called  gunners  has  swept  away  a  vast  number  of  our  best  and 
most  useful  horses  from  the  Middle  West.  Tempted  by  the  price 
otfered  on  an  otherwise  very  dull  horse  market,  the  farmers  have 
let  go  of  their  best  mares,  ranging  in  weight  from  1,200  to  1,500 
j)0unds  and  in  age  from  five  to  ten  years.  The  lame,  the  halt 
and  the  otherwise  unsound  we  have  left  with  us,  also  the  slab-sided, 
three-cornered  undesirable  type  of  those  weights.  Far  too  many 
of  the  really  desirable  shapely  chunks  have  been  exported,  and 
more  are  being  sold  every  day. 

If  the  war  abroad  continues  through  this  year  our  stock  of  good 
chunks  bids  fair  to  be  depleted.  Already  it  is  smaller  than  it 
should  be.  The  farmers  may  be  able  to  get  along  well  enough 
with  the  left-overs  to  do  their  farm  work,  but  the  most  of  them 
have  been  selling  from  the  top  and  letting  go  out  of  the  country 
the  class  of  market  horse  that  is,  and  always  has  been,  the  most 
readily  saleable  and  relatively  the  highest-priced  of  all  our  work 
horses,  recognized  as  a  distinct  class  on  the  market.  With  them, 
too,  have  gone  the  most  of  the  heavier  wagoners,  and  we  might 
say  the  best  light  delivery  wagon  horses  as  w^ell,  because  these 
lighter  delivery  horses  have  been  accepted  freely  for  the  British 
and  French  cavalry  services. 

There  is,  when  all  this  is  understood,  no  difficulty  in  answering 
the  question:  Which  is  now  the  best  horse  for  the  farmer  to 
breed  i  By  all  means  let  him  turn  his  attention  to  supplying  a 
really  attractive,  compactly-built,  wide-ended,  deep-middled,  short- 
legged  chunk,  weighing  1,300  to  1,500  pounds.  After  the  trade 
has"  dropped  back  into  its  regular  channels  at  the  close  of  the  war 
now  raging  in  Europe,  there  will  be  a  greater  price  in  offer  for 
the  heavier  sorts  than  for  those  that  weigh  between  1,200  and  1,300 

pounds. 

For  the  draft  horse  weighing  from  1,700  to  2,000  pounds,  the 
field  must  always  remain  more  or  less  limited.  I  believe  that  it 
will  become  more  and  more  so  as  time  passes  and  the  use  of 
heavy   motor  trucks   increases.      Besides,   not   one  farmer   in   a 


1.T8  The  Horsk  Industry  in  iSTEW  York  State 

tliousand  should  ever  essay  the  breeding  of  these  equine  giants. 
It  is  a  business  by  itself,  to  which  only  a  chosen  few  are  called. 
For  the  chunk,  however,  there  will  be  use  so  long  as  horses  endure 
among  our  useful  domestic  animals.  On  the  farm  they  can,  in 
sutticient  numbers,  pull  the  gang  plow,  cultivate  the  corn  and  do 
all  the  other  work,  while  on  the  road  they  can  haul  to  market  all 
the  load  an  ordinary  farm  wagon  can  carry. 

In  the  city  a  pair  of  horses  weighing  2,800  to  3,000  pounds 
can  do  practically  whatever  a  pair  is  required  to  do,  while  throe 


Fig.  58.—  Typical  Farm  Chunk. 


of  tbem  abreast  can  handle  any  load  that  can  advantageously  be 
navigated  about  the  streets.  In  the  commoner  shapes  they  do  the 
excavation  and  other  similar  rough  work.  In  the  higher  grades 
they  horse  the  wagons  of  the  great  merchants,  and,  in  short,  fill 
the  general  urban  equine  bill. 

This  true,  it  follows  that  the  farmer  who  always  has  for  sale 
a  few  shapely  chunks  of  the  type  and  weight  specified,  will  always 
find  a  ready  market.  He  will  be  producing,  so  to  speak,  standard 
goods,   for  which  the  demand  is  universal.      The  more  care  he 


The  Best  House  fok  the  Fak.mer  to  Pureed  139 

takes  in  mating  the  parent  stock  and  developino-  the  yonng  things, 
the  higher  the  price  he  will  receive  and  the  greater  the  profit  he 
will  make.  Heretofore  the  great  army  chunk  has  been  prodnced 
haphazard.  Xow  is  the  time  for  the  really  wise  farmer  to  set  his 
house  in  order  to  he  able  to  o.ft'er  a  better  article,  more  shapely, 
bred  for  the  purpose,  and  fed  from  birth  so  as  to  imbue  it  with 
that  rotundity  of  conformation  that  spells  a  high  price. 

MEDir:\[-ST/ED    STAl.I.IOXS    DESll.'AP.I.E 

Moreover,  if  the  farmer  will  set  himself  to  produce  chunks 
weighing  from  1,300  to  1,500  pounds  in  weight,  and  will  con- 
scientiously endeavor  to  raise  that  sort  right,  he  need  not  use 
stallions  heavier  than  1,700  pounds,  and  we  all  know  that  it  is 
far  easier  to  find  a  really  shapely  horse  of  that  weight  than  of 
2,000  pounds  or  more.  Only  a  few  of  the  strains  in  the  foreign 
draft  breeds  have  been  characterized  by  gi'cat  scale  for  a  long 
time.  Most  of  these  breeds  have  been  made  heavier  in  response 
to  the  American  demand  for  the  ton  horse.  This  is  especially 
true  of  the  Percheron.  Though  there  have  always  been  very  heavy 
Percherons,  the  breed  as  a  whole  was  much  lighter  thirty  or  forty 
years  ago  than  it  is  today.  Some  of  the  most  deeply  bred  of 
these  drafters  are  not  the  largest  by  any  means. 

A  medium-sized  stallion  is  usually  a  prepotent  sire.  I  have 
never  known  a  great  behemoth,  no  matter  how  finished  he  might 
be  himself,  to  breed  well.  In  any  case,  what  is  the  sense  in  using 
2.000-pound  or  heavier  stallions  to  beget  chunks  weighing  from 
1,300  to  1,450  pounds  from  mares  of  about  the  latter  Aveight,  or 
only  a  little  lighter  ?  'Mj  idea  of  the  best  thing  a  fanner  can  do 
now  to  insure  for  himself  always  a  profitable  market  and  a  ready 
dispo.-^al  of  tlie  horses,  is  to  use  a  shapely  stallion  weighing  not 
over  1,700  pounds  to  mares  weighing  from  1,250  to  1,400  pounds, 
and  then  feed  his  foals  properly  during  at  least  their  first  3G5 
days. 

This  is  a  most  important  item  in  the  success  or  failure  of  the 
horse  breeder.  It  is  the  flesh  made  the  first  year  that  puts  the 
rotundity  into  the  equine  frame.  If  it  is  not  made  then,  that 
rolling  roundness  of  conformation,  so  much  desired,  is  never  at- 
tnined  in  its  proper  development.  In  this  way  I  believe  the  sen- 
sible farmer  can  fortifv  himself  so  that  no  matter  which  way  the 


140  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

market  goes  lie  will  always  1)0  able  to  sell  his  surplus  horses  at  top 
prices.  There  is  a  scarcity  of  that  sort  now;  it  will  Lecouie 
greater  as  time  passes.  If,  as  is  confidently  believed,  Europe  will 
be  a  heavier  buyer  than  ever  after  peace  is  declared,  the  chunk 
will  bring  relatively  the  highest  price,  just  as  it  is  practically  the 
only  market  sort  in  keen,  active  demand  at  present. 

He  can  be  produced  as  cheaply  as  even  much  commoner  kinds. 
The  mares  will  do  the  work  on  the  farm,  and  the  investment  in  a 
stallion  quite  big  enough  for  the  purpose,  if  the  feeding  of  the" 
colts  is  properly  done,  will  not  be  a  heavy  one.  When  business 
picks  up  in  this  country,  the  first  demand  on  domestic  account 
will  be  for  chunks  and  good-sized  wagoners,  both  produced  after 
the  suggested  formula.  Foreign  and  domestic  buyers  will  com- 
pete for  these  stocky,  useful  horses.  They  will  last  the  longest 
against  the  competition  of  mechanical  traction  for  several  reasons, 
which  need  not  be  detailed  here,  but  largely  because  they  are  the 
most  useful  of  their  kind.  Finally,  does  it  not  stand  to  reason  that 
if,  as  hitherto,  they  will  return  a  good  profit  when  produced 
haphazard  and  without  close  adherence  to  one  type,  they  will,  if 
bred,  fed  and  developed  with  a  fixed  object  in  view,  return  a 
considerably  larger  profit  ?  There  is  no  ([uestion  but  that  chunks 
bred  to  be  chunks  must  be  better  than  those  that  just  iiappen  to 
be  chunks  because  the  treatment  to  which  they  were  subjected 
prevented  them  from  becoming  what  they  should  have  been  at 
maturity.  Drivers,  speed  horses,  saddlers  and  drafters  may 
safely  be  left  to  the  specialists.  The  farmer  will  find  the  pro- 
verbially safe  middle  road  in  breeding  high-class  chunks  w-eighing 
from  1,'P>00  to  1,500  pounds,  the  get  of  shapely,  pure-bred,  medium- 
sized  draft  stallions  and  the  mares  he  works  on  his  land. 


CARE  OF  THE  STALLION 

Jay  Gelder 

Kanona,  Steuben  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Stallions,  like  some  people,  are  almost 
Innnaii;  and. like  the  favorite  son  of  rich 
parents,  many  of  them  are  ruined  by 
so-called  kindness.  The  man  who  in- 
vented the  solitary  confinement  box  stall 
method  of  caring  for  a  stallion  was  a 
fool  and  a  twin  brother  to  the  inventor 
of  cribbing,  lip  lapping,  stall  kicking 
nuistnrbating,  weak  foals,  sterility,  weak 
joints,  brittle  hoofs,  ruined  constitutions, 
disappointment,  loss,  etc.  Possibly  some  of  these  troubles  may 
be  inherited,  but  positively  all  can  be  caused  for  want  of  proper 
exercise,  care  and  feeding. 

T.IGIIT   WORK  DESIKABLK 

Teach  tlie  stallion  to  work,  preferably  as  a  two-year-old  —  light 
work,  of  course.  It  is  all  right  to  use  a  young  stallion  for  light 
driving  if  we  can  accomplish  something  by  it ;  hauling  milk  to  the 
creamery  every  m-orning  is  ideal  if  the  distance  is  not  too  great  or 
the  load  too  heavy.  The  regularity  of  exercise  is  desirable,  and  it 
is  the  cheapest  way  possible  to  advertise  a  stallion.  Let  him  step 
otf  at  top  speed  for  a  short  distance  on  a  smooth,  soft  piece  of  road 
—  only  a  few  rods  at  first,  enough  to  expand  his  lungs  and  develop 
his  muscles,  but  never  to  excess.  Never  let  him  jog  or  shuttle 
along,  for  no  one  loves  a  loafer ;  surplus  energy  will  be  used  in  the 
active  walk,  which  is  the  real  gait  for  the  drafter. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  just  how  much  work  a  young  draft  stallion 
should  have,  but  certainly  never  enough  to  fatigue  him.  Two 
or  three  hours  in  the  early  morning  and  the  same  amount  in  the 
late  afternoon  is  ideal,  and  can  often  be  arranged  more  profitably 
than  it  would  appear  at  first  thought.  Drawing  a  smoothing  har- 
row, cultivator,  weeder,  grain  fertilizer,  etc.,  can  usually  be  done 
profitably  with  two-year-old  drafters.     Three-  and  four-year-old 

[141] 


142 


Tjie  Horse  Industry  in  TvTkw  ^'()RK  State 


stallions  can  usually  do  a  full  day's  work  if  ser\nce  is  not  ex- 
cessive; l>ut,  if  rotiuired  to  make  three  or  four  services  .a  week,  a 
half  day's  work  is  all  we  should  ask  of  them.  The  same  would 
apply  to  matured  stallions,  only  the  mimher  of  services  could  he 
increased ;  however  one  service  a  day  is  enough  for  hest  results ; 
if  second  service  is  allowed  they  should  be  about  twelve  hours 
apart. 

STABl.IXG  A.\J>    FEE  I) 

Stallions  should  be  stabled  with  other  horses,  preferably  in  a 
well-ventilated  box  stall  with  openings  so  they  can  see  what  is 


I'k..  .11.    Desirable  Tvim;  (ir  Si  Ai.i.id.x. 


going  on,  but  far  better  use  a  hitch  stall  than  a  filthy,  unbedded, 
poorly  v^entilated  box.  It  is  poor  economy  and  bad  business  to  be 
too  careful  of  bedding  in  a  horse  stable. 

Oats,  bran  and  good  mixed  hay  —  about  three-fourths  of  a 
pound  of  gTain  and  one"  pound  of  hay  for  each  100  pounds  of 
horse,  varied  according  to  the^  condition,  work  and  individuality 
of  each  horse  ^  is  splendid  feed  for  a  stallion.     However,  alfalfa 


Care  oi'    riii-:  Stallion  143 

buvt^r  sliouldfflW^*i^^t6^  f^^'  ^^^^  ^^''^^^'  '^"^  '^^  ^^^^^^  one-lialf  of  tho 

is  not  necessa;^jL ^o  5  for  a  breeding  stallion  is  about  right.    Care 

,v,v^y  '■^'^i^^pPPP^'t  to  overfeed;  coarse  timothy  hay  and  corn  are 

boti  ifardto  digest  and  carry  little  protein,  and  they  should  be 

fed  sparingly,  if  at  all,  to  breeding  stock. 

Fresh,  pure  water  is  very  important  and  should  be  given  before 
each  feeding;  if  vv^orking  in  warm  weather,  a  horse  should  be  al- 
lowed a  drink  between  meals.  A  good  groom  will  always  water 
and  hx  the  bed  the  last  thing  at  night  after  the  horse  has  finished 
his  evening  meal.  Salt  may  be  added  to  grain  feed  or  kept  where 
the  stallion  can  help  himself.  If  necessary  to  regulate  the  bowels, 
feed  a  little  oil  meal  or  give  pure  linseed  oil ;  if  bowels  are  too 
active,  reduce  the  feed  and  add  charcoal  to  the  ration.  Avoid 
all  stock  foods  or  concoctions  of  that  nature;  far  better  employ  a 
reliable  veterinary. 

AVOID    AX     EXCESS    OF   -FAT 

Xo  one  can  successfully  deny  that  a  Uirge  percentage  of  the 
stallions  sold  in  Xew  York  State  have  proved  a  poor  investment 
as  a  commercial  proposition,  one  reason  being  that  few  have  been 
sold  for  their  real  worth.  The  demand  has  been  for  the  corn-fed, 
stall-fed,  poorly-exercised,  excessively  fat  stallion  that  looks  good 
and  weighs  heavy,  but  often  proves  a  shy  breeder  the  first  season, 
and  when  reduced  in  flesh  to  breeding  condition  is  often  found 
disappointing  in  quality.  Don't  blame  the  dealer,  however,  for 
as  long  as  buyers  want  fat  and  are  willing  to  pay  the  price,  they 
will  get  it.  It  costs  a  heap  of  money,  time  and  work  to  put  a 
stallion  in  show  shape  —  perhaps  a  hundred  dollars,  perhaps  one 
thousand  dollars,  depending  on  the  age  of  the  horse  and  how  well 
the  work  is  done,  and  the  buyer  pays  a  fancy  price  for  damaged 
goods.  However,  a  draft  horse  should  carry  some  flesh,  although 
they  rarely  have  too  much  if  worked  or  given  plenty  of  exercise, 
with  oats  and  bran  for  their  grain  ration. 

A  GOOD  DRAFT  STALLIOX  A  PROFITABLE  INVESTMENT 

A  good  draft  stallion  will  pay  as  well  or  better  than  any  other 
live  stock  in  any  good  farming  community,  but  he  should  earn  his 
keep  at  the  regular  farm  work.  Beginners  should  buy  a  young  one 
• —  a  vearling,  a  two-year-old  or  even  a  weanling ;  he  should  be  of 
good  size,  well  grown  for  his  age  and  in  good  condition.     The 


144 


The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


'1  s'lee  is  not  ex- 
•cs  a  week,  a 


Cake  of  the  Stallion  '  145 

buyer  should  le  sure  that  the  colt  has  had  plenty  of  exercise.  It 
is  not  necessary  to  pay  an  excessive  price  for  such  a  colt ;  he  will 
grow  into  money  very  fast  and  should  pay  his  keep  at  two  years 
old,  at  maturity  do  the  ordinary  farm  work,  and  earn  a  nice  profit 
in  the  stud  each  year  thereafter. 

CHARACTERISTIOS   OF   A  GOOD   DRAFTER 

A  stallion  should  have  a  good  crest,  bold  masculine  appearance, 
bright,  full  hazel  eye,  a  broad,  full  forehead,  and  a  strong,  wide, 
wefl-muscled   jaw  — for   the   grist   mill   of   the   stallion   is   very 
important.     The  depth  of  body  should  equal  or  exceed  one-half  his 
lieidit ;  the  length  of  (juarter  from  point  of  hip  to  point  of  buttock 
and  the  depth   from  upper  end   of  shoulder  blade  to  point  of 
shoulder  should  be  about  equal,  and  each  should  exceed  the  length 
of  back  from  shoulder  blade  to  coupling.     The  sloping  shoulder 
and  long,  level  hip  gives  the  short  back  and  long  underline  —  the 
.•onformation  so  much  desired  —  and  allows  free  action.     If  the 
ribs  extend  up  and  well  out  from  the  backbone  and  carry  down- 
ward, the  horse  has  lots  of  room  inside  for  lungs,  heart  and  other 
vital  organs.     Excessive  fat  gives  this  appearance  to  a  flat-sided 
horse,  and  is  damaging  and  deceiving.     Equally  important  is  the 
pastern  —  the  mainspring  of  the  horse  ;  it  should  have  an  angle  of 
fortv-five  degrees.     Straight  pasterns  mean  straight  shoulders  and 
the  "sidebone"^  and  ringbone  conformation.     Equally  as  important 
are  the  feet  —  especially  the  fore  feet,  as  they  carry  about  60  per 
cent  of  the  weight.    I  have  known  many  buyers  to  foolishly  object 
to  a  thick  sole,^the  cushion  of  all  the  good  or  bad  things  above. 
1  )on't  let  the  blacksmith  mutilate  the  sole  just  because  it  cuts  easy ; 
the  saying,  "  We  must  be  good  to  our  soul  or  our  soul  won't  amount 
to  much,'^  applies  to  the  sole  of  a  horse's  foot  as  well. 

At  least  two-thirds  of  the  power  in  pulling  is  expended  through 
the  hock,  and  no  doubt  50  per  cent  of  all  unsoundness  is  at  this 
point-  therefore  it  stands  to  reason  that  the  hock  is  one  of  the 
most  important  points  in  a  draft  horse  sire.  The  term  quality 
covers  a  heap  of  sins  in  draft  stallions,  especially  in  the  East.  We 
are  led  to  associate  the  word  with  fine,  silky  hair;  clean,  cordy 
leos-  well-proportioned  bodv;  large,  bright  eyes;  beautiful  head 
and 'neck,  and  a  nervous  energy  sticking  out  a  foot  from  every 
10 


14(; 


TiiK  MoirsK   Im)istk-v  i.\   K  kw   Wuik  8tatk 


point,  yet  properl.y  controlled  by  u  level,  intellioent  disposition. 
Now,   add  real   size  and  massiveness  to  that,   and  we  have  the 
ideal  draft  horse  sire -the  kind  that  is  in  demand  hy  the  men 
that  know,  and  don't  have  to  be  peddled  bv  some  expert.     The  flat 
bone  of  the  leg  is  in  reality  ronnd,  the  cords  and  tendons  uivino- it 
the  clean,  flat,  desirable  appearance.     As  to  size  of  sire  it  has 
been  said  that  80  per  cent  of  the  horse  buyers  want  horses  wei.-h- 
mg  1,000  ponnds  or  over,  and  80  per  cent  of  the  horses  otfered 
at  our  large  horse  markets  are  nnder   1,500  ponnds;   in   other 
words,  80  per  cent  of  the  buyers  are  after  only  20  per  cent  of 
the    orterings.      Twenty   years   ago   nine-   or   ten-hundred-ponnd 
horses  were  considered    large   enough   for   eastern   farms;    now 
most  of  our  farmers  want  three  or  four  hundred  pounds  heavier 
If  a  fifteen-hundred-pound  sire  is  the  size  wanted,  he  will  cost 
at  least  one-third  less  than  one  weighing  1,800  pounds  of  the  same 
quality,  and  in  the  same  condition.     Other  things  being  equal   the 
price  will  advance  with  size  very  rapidly  in  a  draft  stdlion.    How- 
ever, mere  weight  counts  but  little;  size  of  bone,  if  not  too  meatv 
IS  a  good  indication  of  draft  horse  size.     It  should  measure  from' 
nine  to  eleven  inches  around  the  smallest  part  of  the  cannon  bone 
in  front,  and  from  ten  and  one-half  to  thirteen  inches  behind 
according  to  size  of  stallion.      He  should  be  of  rather  ruo^oed 
build;  the  rangy  drafters  have  not  as  a  rule  proved  the  best  sires 
A  height  of  sixteen  to  seventeen  hands  is  about  right,  and  a  iiood 
full  flank  "  bread  basket  "  is  essential. 

INTELLIGENT    HANDLING 

Teaching  a  young  stallion  to  mount  from  the  left  side  of  the 
mare  is  important.  Stand  the  mare  with  her  right  side  about 
two  feet  from  a  building  or  board  fence  to  prevent  the  colt  from 
working  around  on  her  right  side,  as  often  occurs.  Be  gentle,  but 
firm.  Sometimes  if  the  colt  is  timid  it  is  necessary  to  use  a  halter 
at  first;  a  bridle  with  a  chain  under  the  jaw  will  control  most 
stallions.  A  %-inch  rod  8  inches  long,  with  a  snap  welded  in  one 
end  and  a  small  ring  in  the  other,  and  used  in  place  of  chain  will 
easily  control  a  headstrong  stallion.  This,  however,  must  be  used 
by  an  even  tempered  man,  as  a  yank  might  break  the  stallion's  jaw. 

This  generation  has  inherited  many  superstitious,  silly  ideas, 


Care  of  tiik  Sia  1.1,10. \  1-i' 

such  as  l)leediiiu-,  blindfoldinu',  dark  of  the  moon,  cold  water  treat- 
ment, etc.,  at  time  of  service,  every  one  fiiUy  guaranteed  to  pro- 
duce a  foal.  The  writer  tried  them  all  several  years  ago  with  his 
first  stallion,  and  got  ten  foals  from  uinety-six  mares  bred.  This 
proves  that  10  per  cent  of  the  mares  will  breed  in  spite  of,  rather 
than  because  of,  intelligent  handling.  We  now  have  the  best 
of  reasons  for  believing  that  mares  are  more  apt  to  settle  if  bred 
during  last  of  heat,  and  preferably  in  the  late  afternoon.  Marcs 
rarelv  conceive  unless  in  normal  health;  even  a  slight  cold  or 
excitement  is  to  be  avoided,  and  when  taken  to  stallion  they  should 
be  driven  or  led  moderately  —  never  ridden. 

Three  and  four  vears  old  are  trying  times  for  any  horse  as  the 
teeth  are  shed  at  that  age.  The  mouth  should  be  carefully  and 
reoularlv  examined  and  the  old  teeth  removed  as  soon  .as  they 
become  loosened.  This  is  not  only  profitable,  but  it  is  humane ; 
often  indigestion,  colic,  much  sutfering  and  even  death  are  caused 
by  its  neglect. 

ArvTlFlClAL  BKEEDIXG 

The  use  of  the  capsule  in  breeding  two  or  more  mares  from 
one  service  is  practical,  but  requires  good  judgment  and  some 
experience,  lleliable  information  on  artificial  breeding  can  be 
had  from  the  manufacturers  of  breeding  instruments. 


CARE  OF  THE  BROOD  MARE  AND  HER  COLT 

Lowell  Ivoudebusii,  New  Kiciimond,  Ohio 

Tlie  care  of  the  brood  mare  sliouJd 
begin  at  birth;  a  mother  should  have 
been  well  nourished  all  her  days.  How- 
ever,   she   should   never   be   overfed a 

common  condition  found  even  on  the  so- 
called  stock  farms,  and  one  which  ulti- 
mately results  disastrously. 

CV)lthood  is  the  time  to  lay  the  founda- 
tion for  motherhood,  since  the  dam  is  60 
per  cent  in  the  breeding  and  rearing  of  the 

horse.      The  laying  of  this  foundation  is  not  a  difficult  problem, 

particularly  if  the  dam  is  a  good  suckler. 


ACJE    TO    BREED 

At  what  age  should  a  mare  be  bred?  Would  that  one  could 
always  tell  a  good  brood  mare  at  sight !  As  a  rule,  a  mare  should 
be  bred  at  four  years  of  age,  if  not  sooner.  It  is  best  to  have  the 
filly  fairly  well  broken,  but  nof  in  spirit,  before  she  is  bred. 

KEQUIEEMENTS  OF  A  GOOD  BEOOD  MAEE 

What  are  some  of  the  external  indications  of  a  good  brood 
mare?  Intelligence,  docility,  non-irritability,  a  good  suckler, 
one  that  does  not  worry  about  her  offspring,  and  oaie  liavino-  a 
large  heart  girth.  The  shape  of  the  head  and  expression  of 'the 
eyes  are  good  indices  of  intelligence,  docility  and  vitality. 

Fig.  56  shows  a  group  of  draft  mares  in  foal,  with  a  foal 
and  a  yearling.  Two  years  ago  two  of  the  three  mares  were  bred 
to^a  splendid  jack.  The  mule  colts  were  sold  at  weaning  time  at 
$75  apiece,  and  a  yearling  horse  colt  was  sold  for  $125.  All 
three  are  good  individuals,  free  from  blemishes,  intelligent,  docile, 
do  not  fret  and  are  good  sucklers. 

[148] 


Care  of  the  Bkood  .Mare  and  Her  ('oet  149 

CARE  before  and  AT  TIME  OF  PARTUKITION 

The  mare  above  all  tilings  should  have  pleasant  and  sanitary 
snrroundinos.  She  should  also  have  plenty  of  exercise  in  the 
wav  of  light  but  continuous  work,  or  the  run  of  a  paddock  or 
pasture  A  large,  roomy  box  stall  will  suffice  where  worked 
dailv.  She  should  not  be  trotted  on  hard  roads  or  be  used  for 
horseback  riding  at  any  time  or  anywhere. 

In  her  care  three  general  methods  obtain:  (1)  no  work  at  all 
■md  pasture  all  the  time  possible;  (2)  light  work  until  two  or 
'three  weeks  of  the  supposed  foaling  time,  then  the  run  of  a  good 
pasture  for  ten  days;  (3)  light  work  until  she  foals,  then  ten 
davs'  rest  as  already  indicated.  We  have  tried  and  seen  tried  all 
thi-ee  methods,  and  find  but  little  ditierence.  Working  now  and 
then  is  detrimental.  For  pasture  there  is  nothing  so  good  as 
Kentucky  blue  grass. 

The  tvpes  of  brood  mares  shomi  in  Fig.  56  do  as  much  work 
•IS  oeldinos  of  the  same  type,  except  for  three  weeks  of  the  year. 

What  shall  the  mare  be  fed  i  The  same  as  geldings  tor  the 
first  six  months  of  pregnancy ;  then  gradually  increase  the  amount 
of  bone-  hair-  and  muscle-making  food.  She  may  be  lei  crushed 
oats  and  corn  to  which  wheat  bran  has  been  added  and  clover  or 
mixed  hay -not  too  much  alfalfa.  A  handful  of  oil  meal  once 
a  d-iv  will  keep  her  bowels  in  good  condition.  Constipation  is 
dangerous  in  a  brood  mare,  as  are  also  strong  purgatives  -  avoid 
both      Ice  cold  water  late  in  pregnancy  is  not  desirable. 

Do  not  permit  her  in  pasture  where  the  grass  is  rank.  We 
lost  a  splendid  colt  once  by  letting  the  dam  graze  m  a  patch  ot 
wheat  that  was  convenient  to  the  stable.  _       _ 

When  may  the  foal  be  expected^  The  period  of  gestation  is 
from  300  to  400  davs;  350  days  for  a  male  foal  and  340  or  a 
female  is  a  general  average.  Good  symptoms  of  near  at  hand 
foaling  are:  hirge  full  udder,  teats  well  filled  with  waxy  secre- 
tions at  ends,  and  sunken  areas  at  pelvic  bones  _ 

Manv  farmers  neglect  to  have  a  suitable  stall  or  place  m  which 
the  dam  can  foal  with  safety  to  herself  and  oft'spring.  I  siou  d 
be  large  and  clean.  All  litter  and  material  of  every  sor  should 
be  removed,  and  the  entire  interior  thoroughly  washed  with  a  dis- 
infectant such  as  cresol,  or  a  carbolic  solution.  Many  colts  be- 
come infected  in  dirty  stalls  through  the  navel.     In  any  event 


150 


The  IIokse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


O  CO 

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Cake  of  ttie  Bhood  ^Fake  and  Her  Colt  1^)1 

it  is  wise  to  tie  and  disinfect  the  latter  as  soon  as  the  cult  is 

dropped. 

There  is  no  better  place  for  a  mare  to  foal  than  in  a  pasture, 
provided  the  weather  permits,  and  no  other  stock  is  nearby. 
Watch  her  carefully,  for  many  dams  and  foals  have  died  from 
lack  of  attention  at  foaling  time,  even  with  normal  presentations. 
Sometimes  the  foal's  head  is  covered  with  air-tight  membranes 
and  it  smothers  or  suffocates.  Wo  have  known  many  such  cases. 
If  the  presentation  is  abnormal,  call  a  veterinarian  at  once.  Keep 
the  mare  and  colt  quiet  for  a  few  hours,  and  see  that  the  foal 
sucks.     Do  not  let  the  udder  become  caked. 

In  case  the  colt  dies  there  is  nothing  better  to  dry  up  the 
mother  than  camphorated  lard  rubbed  on  the  udder  twice  a  day. 
In  addition  milk  her,  l)ut  not  dry,  two  or  three  times  a  day  until 

she  is  dry. 

If  the  mother  should  die  in  foaling  or  soon  after,  give  the  foal 
cow's  milk  modified  by  one-fourth  water,  with  a  teaspoonful  of 
melted  sugar  added  to  a  <iuai't.  Be  sure  to  feed  blood  warm, 
and  at  first  with  a  large  nipple.  After  a  week  or  ten  days  the 
foal  will  learn  to  drink.  Great  care  should  be  exercised  that  the 
vessel  is  washed  with  scalding  water  after  each  feeding. 

CARE    OF    THE    YOFXG    COLT 

it.  How  often  should  the  foal  be  permitted  to  nurse  ?  Xever  when 
the  mother  is  very  warm  or  excited.  Under  normal  conditions,  at 
will  until  two  weeks  old ;  then  three  times  a  day  until  four  weeks 
old ;  after  that  gradually  reduce  until  none  at  weaning  time. 

Foals  should  not  follow  their  mothers  if  worked  in  the  field  or 
on  the  road.  If  the  mother  is  not  worked  and  is  on  pasture,  the 
foal  should  run  with  her. 

One  should  begin  to  break  the  foal  to  the  halter  when  the  Latter 
is  two  or  three  days  old.  Then,  if  necessary,  it  can  be  tied  in  its 
mother's  stall  in  her  absence,  or  while  grooming  and  harnessing 
her.  Foals  must  be  controlled,  and  this  is  readily  accomplished 
bv  the  use  of  the  halter. 
'  The  foal  should  always  have  a  separate  box  or  receptacle  for 
solid  food  apart  from  the  mother's,  where  it  can  eat  at  will  with- 
out hindrance  or  annoyance  from  her.  This  feeding  box  should 
be  as  far  removed  from  the  mother's  as  possible,  but  should 
alwavs  be  near  her  —  in  the  manger  if  it  is  low  enough. 


152 


The  Horse  Industry  \n  New  York  State 


WEANINO 

At  what  ac;e  slionid  a  colt  be  weaned  ?  This  depends  upon 
many  conditions.  As  a  general  statement,  at  from  four  to  six 
months  of  age.  Sometimes  the  mother  gives  but  little  milk  and 
that  little  does  not  agree  with  the  foal.  When  this  is  the  case 
the  foal  should  be  weaned  at  the  earliest  possible  moment;  other- 
wise when  most  convenient. 

How  should  the  colt  be  weaned  ?  By  leaving  it  in  its  accus- 
tomed stall  and  putting  the  mother  in  the  adjoining  one.  If  this 
cannot  be  done,  reverse.  Never  turn  a  weanling  out  in  that  lone- 
some back  pasture  where  grass  and  water  are  scarce,  flies  al)und- 
ant  and  the  temperature  high. 


Fig.  57.  Grade  Draft  Mare  Nine  Years  Old,  WEUiiiT  1,400  Pouad.s.  The 
Mule  Colt  is  Nine  Days  Old.  This  is  the  INIare's  Fourth  Colt,  all  oi 
Which  Were  Sold  for  About  $75  Each 


FEED   and    care 

Of  what  shall  the  colt's  solid  food  or  grain  consist  ?  Nothing 
is  better  than  equal  parts  by  weight  of  crushed  oats  and  corn  to 
which  is  added  a  like  proportion  of  wheat  bran.  If  the  dam  is 
a  good  suckler  very  little  of  this  need  be  fed  until  the  foal  is  ten 
weeks  old.  Draft-bred  foals  will  require  more  than  trotting-l)re(l 
or  thoroughbred  —  anywhere  from  one  pint  to  one  quart  twice  a 


The  Hokse  Industky  in  jS'ew  York  State  153 

day.  Each  foal  is  a  law  unto  itself.  If  the  dam  is  a  poor 
stickler,  then  the  amount  to  be  given  should  be  much  larger.  A 
good  guide  is  what  the  foal  will  clean  up  readily  and  yet  not  be 
entirely  satisfied.  The  feeding  of  grain  to  the  foal  is  for  the 
purpose  of  nourishing  it  and  preparing  it  for  that  other  im- 
portant time  —  weaning. 

If  the  mother  is  not  worked,  and  has  the  run  of  a  good' pasture, 
the  necessity  for  grain  is  not  so  great,  but  should  begin  not 
later  than  twelve  weeks. 

What  shall  the  yearling  colt  he  fed  (  If  the  roughage  has  been 
cut,  shredded  or  whole  corn  fodder  or  timothy  hay,  then  equal 
parts  by  weight  of  crushed  corn,  oats  and  wheat  bran  twice  per 
day,  is  an  ideal  ration.  From  one  to  two  quarts  may  be  given 
at  a  feeding,  depending  upon  the  breed,  etc.,  of  the  colt.  If  fed 
on  timothy  hay  and  whole  corn,  feed  a  gill  of  oil  meal  once  a 
day,  and  a  little  salt  twice  per  week.  The_colt  does  not  need 
condition-  powders  if  properly  fed  and  cared  for.  If  one  has 
clover  or  alfalfa  hay,  whole  corn  can  be  fed  exclusively  as  the 
grain  ration.  Oat  straw  and  wheat  bran  make  a  good  combina- 
tion. Grass  is  the  natural  food  of  the  horse,  and,  if  abundant, 
is  sufficient  without  grain. 

The  food  the  second  and  third  winters  should  be  the  same  as 
the  first,  except  that  a  larger  quantity  should  be  fed. 

What  about  silage  in  winter  ?  There  is  nothing  better  if  free 
from  mold.  With  this  precaution  a  small  amount  is  excellent, 
particularly  if  no  roots  are  available. 

When  the  snow  flies  and  the  pasture  is  gone,  the  weanling 
should  have  exercise  daily.  This  can  be  provided  by  letting  it 
have  the  run  of  the  feed  lot,  covered  barnyard,  or  around  the 
straw  stack.  But  it  must  have  exercise  at  all  hazards.  Exercise 
the  first,  second  and  third  winters  is  vital  to  health  and  normal 
development. 

CONCLUSIONS 

Having  a  brood  mare  that  is  worthy  of  the  name,  mate  her 
with  a  good  stallion  of  the  same  breed  or  type.  Feed  and  intelli- 
gently care  for  both  dam  and  foal ;  it  will  be  a  profitable  invest- 
ment. One  can  safely  figure  profit  at  $50  on  the  weanling  after 
paying  for  service  and  lost  time. 


154  Tjik  UoKsi.;  Tnt)ustry  in  New  Vok-k  State 


Do  not  pay  .$;50()  for  a  liorse  that  can  be  raised  for  $150.     Do  i 
not  send  hard-earned  dollars  to  the  West  where  they  fatten  horses 
like  hogs,  and  which,  when  purchased,  do  not  prove  satisfactory 
— the  first  year  at  least.     "  New  York  horses  for  New  York " 


I 


should  be  the  slogan. 


Fig.  59.    Lsixg  the  Brood  Mare  in  Cutting  Alfalfa. 


I 


FALL  VERSUS  SPRING  COLTS 

EdWAUD    van    AlSTYAE,    KiNDEElIOOK,    N.    Y. 
Director  of  Farmers'  Institutes 

IS   IT   PKOFITABLE    TO    RAISE    COLTS  ? 

Before  attempting  to  discuss  the 
relative  merits  of  either  fall  or  spring 
colts,  I  would  tirst  take  up  the  proposition 
of  raising  colts  at  all.  If  I  can  thereby 
interest  and  convince  some  of  my  fellow 
farmers  that  it  is  profitable  to  raise  horses 
for  their  own  use,  as  well  as  an  occasional 
one  to  sell,  the  number  of  those  who  will 
then  be  ready  to  consider  the  merits  of  the 
two  seasons  will  be  materially  increased. 
I  am  writing  for  the  farmer  who  must  keep  from  two  to  a 
half  dozen  horses  to  do  his  work;  not  for  the  man  who  makes 
horse  breeding  a  specialty.  Dr.  Warren  of  Cornell  University, 
in  his  most  practical  l)ook  on  "  Farm  Management,"  shows  that 
the  horse  works  only  one-third  of  the  time.  This  makes  his  service 
expensive.  Even  with  a  better  system  of  farm  management,  hav- 
ing a  growing  season  of  not  to  exceed  five  or  six  months  and  at 
least  four  months  when  no  work  caji.  1)6  done  on  the  land,  it  will 
always  he  a  fact  that  in  order  to  have  suthcient  horse  power  to  do 
the  work  of  the  farm  in  proper  season,  there  will  of  necessity  be  a 
period  when  the  horse  must  be  idle.  The  increased  expense  of 
horse  labor  can  be  materially  reduced  if  a  colt  can  be  credited 
against  it,  raised  at  a  time  when  the  horse  has  least  to  do. 

We  shall  always  need  horse  power  on  the  farm,  and  to  purchase 
one  or  more  horses  at  rather  frequent  intervals  means  a  heavy 
draft  on  the  returns  from  our  money  crops. 

On  account  of  the  European  war  wath  its  destruction  of  horses 
and  hort-e-raising  territory,  and  the  consequent  inability  to  draw 
from  there  for  the  world's  supply  of  horses,  the  price  must  con- 
tinue to  be  high. 

[155] 


15G  TllK    IIOJJSE    iNBUSTJtY    IN    N  E\V    YoiIK    StATE 

So,  if  the  horse  can  be  produced  at  home  at  first  cost,  and  per- 
fectly acclimated  both  to  the  farm  and  state,  a  large  part  of  this 
outlay  can  be  stopped. 

We  hear  much  about  bringing  the  producer  and  consumer 
together.  Here  is  a  most  practical  way  to  do  this,  and  a  way 
within  the  power  of  most  to  accomplish.  Eather  than  take  the 
net  dollar  from  a  crop  that  went  to  a  long-distance  customer, 
to  buy  a  horse  raised  a  thousand  miles  away  on  land  selling  from 
$150  to  $200  an  acre,  let  us  raise  our  own  horses. 

Admitting  for  the  sake  of  argument  that  the  cost  of  raising 
a  horse  will  be  as  great  as  his  purchase  price  —  which  is  not  true 
—  the  colt  is  a  kind  of  savings  bank  where  small  annual  de- 
posits can  be  made  (some  of  which  would  not  otherwise  be  made 
at  all )  for  four  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  instead  of  having 
to  draw  a  couple  of  hundred  dollars  from  our  funds  to  buy  a  horse 
we  have  the  horse  on  hand.  And  occasionally  we  have  one  to 
sell.  J\[y  experience  since  1  have  raised  my  own  horses  has 
been  that  there  is  no  material  reduction  in  crop  receipts,  and  I 
no  longer  have  to  draw  from  them  to  buy  horses. 

On  most  farms  pasture,  fodders,  and  some  farm  grains  find  a 
market  through  the  growing  colt,  where  otherwise  there  is  none; 
or  a  better  one  than  if  the  produce  has  to  be  hauled  to  a  more  or 
less  distant  market.  The  manure  made  from  products  so  fed 
on  the  farm  is  also  a  factor  worth  considering. 

SPEIA'G  COLTS  MOST  POPULAR 

With  the  above  facts  digested  and  assimilated,  we  should  now 
be  ready  to  raise  a  colt.  Without  doubt  the  majority  of  them 
will  be  born  in  the  spring.  It  is  more  natural  for  a  mare  to 
conceive  at  that  time.  The  rule  seemed  to  be  that  colts  born 
at  a  season  when  the  weather  was  mild  and  food  abundant,  sur- 
vived ;  while  those  born  at  a  time  when  climatic  conditions  were 
unfavorable  and  food  scanty,  perished.  Hence  there  has  been 
established  through  long  generations  mares  whose  habit  it  is  to 
breed  in  spring  time.  Certain  it  is  that  it  is  much  more  difRcult 
to  get  a  mare  to  breed  at  any  o^ther  season. 

It  has  been  the  established  custom  to  raise  only  spring  colts, 
and  it  is  hard  for  many  to  break  awav  from  the  customs  of  their 


Fall  Veksus  Spimxg  Colts  157 

forefathers  or  neighbors,  and  venture  into  new  paths.  With  old- 
time  conditions  of  cold,  open  barns,  and  no  snccnlent  food  in 
winter,  this  was  a  correct  practice;  but  under  present-day  condi- 
tions this  reason  deserves  little  consideration. 

Spring  colts  being  the  natural  order  there  is  no  need  of  spend- 
ino-  much  time  on  setting  forth  the  advantage  of  having  them 
born  at  this  season. 

Marcli    colts  desirahle 

For  several  reasons  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  to  breed  the 
mare,  which  is  to  be  idle  through  the  winter,  so  that  the  colt  will 
be  born  in  March,  is  ideal.  I  specify  idle  mares  for  at  that  season 
most  of  the  work  is  hauling  —  always  bad  for  a  brood  mare,  par- 
ticularly if  the  loads  are  heavy.  Also,  the  roads  are  apt  to  be 
bad  or  icy,  and  a  mare  near  foaling  cannot  safely  be  worked 
under  these  conditions.  After  the  birth  of  the  colt  the  mare  has 
time  to  recuperate  before  her  services  are  needed.  A  little  later 
she  can  take  her  share  of  light  work,  such  as  drawing  the  spray 
wagon;  and  by  the  time  the  heavier  w^ork  of  the  later  spring 
comes  on,  she  can  take  her  share.  The  colt  will  then  be  eating 
solid  food,  and  it  is  not  important  if  the  mare's  milk  supply  is 
not  so  abundant. 

The  colt  is  large  enough  by  midsummer  that  the  flies  do  not 
affect  it  as  they  do  a  younger  foal.  It  can  be  weaned  in  late 
July  or  August  while  pasture  is  yet  good,  and  the  mare  will  have 
time  to  gain  flesh  before  winter.  Care  must  be  exercised  not  to 
let  the  foal  nurse  when  the  mare  is  warm  after  working.  The 
older  the  colt  the  less  the  danger. 

ADVANTAGES    OF   THE    FALL    COLT 

My  purpose  in  this  article  is  primarily  to  induce  farmers  to 
at  least  raise  their  own  horses.  To  further  that  purpose  Uwould 
emphasize  the  advantages  of  the  fall  colt  —  there  are  several. 
First  as  to  the  use  of  the  mare:  one  can  usually  time  the 
arrival  of  the  colt  so  that  it  will  come  after  the  pressing  fall  work 
is  done.  This  will  vary  with  different  farms  —  any  time  between 
early  September  and  Xovember  is  desirable.  Jn  my  own  case 
it  is  after  the  silos  are  filled  and  the  winter  grain  sown.     The 


158 


The  HoifSK   Ixdistkv  i.\   A^ew   YoitK  State 


brood  mare  will  do  much  of  the  fall  plowing,  work  on  the  drill, 
make  a  third  horse  on  the  corn  harvester,  or  help  to  haul  silage 
corn  if  the  road  is  hard  and  level. 

I  think  the  best  fall  colt  I  ever  raised  came  the  last  day  of 
August.  Fig.  59  shows  this  colt  at  a  year  and  nine  months.  Bv 
selecting  her  work  the  mare  put  in  full  time  through  harvest. 
She  helped  with  the  plowing,  which  that  year  was  done  early, 
and  she  had  a  chance  to  lie  idle  for  ten  days  after  the  colt  was 
born,  before  sowing  and  silo  filling.  After  that  she  was  free  until 
winter.     Then  the  colt  was  four  montlis  old  and  eatine'  like  a  horse. 


Fui.  .50.     .Seven-Eighths  Percherox  Colt,  Tjorx  At^cu'st  ;30,  191.3 

The  mare  made  one  of  a  necessary  team  to  be  kept  up  and  fed 
grain  to  draw  out  manure  and  do  other  winter  work.  Very  little 
more  feed  kept  her  with  plenty  of  milk  for  the  colt.  Separated 
from  the  colt  the  last  of  March  she  was  in  as  good  condition  for  the 
spring's  work  as  her  mate  which  had  no  colt. 

Advantage  io  the  colt 
The  second  spring  when  my  fall  colts  are  eighteen  months  old 
they  have  been  as  large  and  well-developed  as  the  spring  colt  at 
two  years.      This  means  that  at  three  and  a  half  years  a  fall 


I 


Fall  Veksus  Spkia^g  Colts  15!) 


colt  will  do  as  much  work  as  a  four-year-old ;  thus  subtracting 
six  mouths  from  the  maintenance  of  the  colt  before  he  can  earn 
his  keep.  For  this  there  are  three  reasons:  the  colt  gets  a  good 
start  on  grass  in  the  fall  when  the  weather  is  warm  and  there  are 
no  flies;  bj  winter  it  is  eating  freely,  and  with  a  little  selected 
silage  and  roots  in  a  comfortable  stall  it  is  easily  kept  growing, 
instead  of  being  weaned  when  flies  are  at  their  worst,  and  the 
best  of  the  summer  feed  is  gone  and  it  must  subsist  on  dry  food 
until  spring ;  the  fall  colt  soon  gets  grass  after  weaning  and  never 
stops  growing  a  day. 

Colts  usually  shed  their  incisor  teeth  about  three  months  before 
the  end  of  their  second,  third  and  fourth  years.  Fall  colts  there- 
fore shed  these  teeth  when  grass  is  abundant  —  an  important 
reason  for  their  more  rapid  growth. 

It  is  of  great  benefit  to  the  colt  to  be  handled  when  young. 
The  farm  is  a  very  busy  place  after  April  first,  and  however  good 
the  intent,  little  time  can  be  given  to  such  training  after  spring- 
work  sets  in.  In  winter  there  is  time  for  this  training  without 
neglecting  the  putting  in  or  harvesting  of  the  crops. 


Fig.  60.  Three-Quarter  Blood  Perciieeon  ]Mares  Breaking  Ground 
FOR  Silo  Fouxdation   ox  the  Farm   op  Edward  van   Alstyne, 
KiNDERTiooK,  N.  Y.    The  Ofp  Mare  was  a  Fall  Colt 


]()0  TlIK    lloiCSK     InDUSTUY    IN    NeW     \'()KK    StATE 

A    GOOD    PLAN    TO    FOLLOW 

When  one  has  two  brood  mares  and  wishes  to  raise  two  colts 
a  year  and  still  have  most  nse  of  his  mares,  1  have  fonnd  it  a  good 
plan  to  have  one  mare  foal  in  the  fall  and  one  in  early  spring. 
On  almost  any  farm  where  several  horses  are  kept  it  is  not  ditti- 
cnlt  to  have  the  brood  mare  put  in  full  time,  and  at  the  same  time 
select  easy  work  for  her.  It  is  by  no  means  so  easy  to  do  this 
with  two  mares.  By  having  them  foal  as  above  this  is  made 
possible.  Often,  too,  there  is  but  one  suitable  box  stall  and 
paddock.  By  this  plan  one  will  suffice.  xA.s  set  forth  above  the 
pair  will  mate  up  when  one  is  three  and  a  half  and  the  other 
four.  The  pair  shown  in  Fig.  60  were  so  raised.  The  "  off 
one  "  and  the  largest  is  the  youngest  and  was  born  in  the  fall. 
When  they  were  broken  I  could  have  sold  them  for  $500. 

Where  the  mare  is  working,  and  it  seems  too  much  of  a  strain 
to  breed  her  every  year,  1  have  raised  a  colt  from  her  one  year 
in  the  fall  and  the  next  in  the  spring,  or  vice  versa. 

THE  VALUE  OF  SKIM  MILK  FOR  YOUNG  COLTS 

Next  to  the  dam's  milk  I  have  never  found  anything  on  which 
colts  grow  faster  than  on  skim  milk,  after  they  have  become  ac- 
customed to  it.  It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  get  the  colt  to  drink 
it  when  on  grass  and  its  system  is  full  of  moisture,  but  I  have 
never  had  difficulty  in  getting  the  fall  colt  to  take  it.  When 
the  colt  has  skim  milk  it  is  not  so  essential  that  the  mare  should 
have  an  abundant  milk  flow. 


TRAINING  THE  COLT 

H.  E.  HoPKiis^s,  Attica,  N.  Y. 

INTRODUCTION 

Training  the  colt  for  farm  work  is  very 
important,  since  mnch  of  the  value  of  the 
colt  depends  upon  how  well  it  is  trained. 
We  all  know  it  is  a  great  pleasure  to  drive 
or  ride  a  well-trained  horse,  one  that  is 
^^^       safe  either  on  the  road  or  at  w^ork.     The 
J^^^,  i^^^B       farm  horse  should  be  well  trained  in  every 
'  ^^^*       way  because  he  has  a  greater  variety  of 

work  than  any  other  class  of  horses.  He 
guides  the  corn-planter,  the  grain  drill, 
spraver,  and  many  other  farm  implements  which  must  be  drawn 
straight  and  steady.  In  addition  to  this,  he  must  be  safe  for  the 
ladies  to  ride  and  drive  on  the  public  highways.  A  well-trained 
horse  that  has  confidence  in  the  driver  or  rider  may  be  controlled 
no  matter  what  might  frighten  him. 

A  horse  has  a  very  keen  memory,  which  is  formed  by  habit. 
Therefore,  a  trainer  should  be  very  careful  not  to  develop  any 
undesirable  habits,  for  they  will  be  remembered  quite  as  well  as 
the  good  ones.  Be  sure  that  the  colt  understands  what  is  wanted 
of  him.  The  trainer  should  be  firm  and  accomplish  what  he  at- 
tempts, but  care  should  be  taken  not  to  attempt  too  much. 

METHODS  OF  TRAINING 

Training  may  be  divided  into  two  classes  —  slow  method  and 
rapid  method.  The  slow  method  depends  upon  repetition  to  fix 
the  ideas  and  commands,  while  the  rapid  method  uses  intensity 
of  impression  to  fix  ideas.  Most  farmers  who  raise  only  a  few 
colts  each  year  are  situated  so  that  they  can  use  the  slow  method 
and  handle  the  colts  from  foaling  time  up  to  the  age  of 
11  [161] 


162  The  Horse  Tddustijy  in  New  York  State 

two  or  three  years,  when  the  rapid  method  can  be  used  if  neces- 
sary. The  colt  should  be  broken  to  both  single  and  double  harness, 
and  should  be  exercised  sufficiently  to  make  him  handy  and  safe. 
He  should  not  be  worked  steadily  until  he  is  matured. 

HANDLING   THE   FOAL 

The  little  foal  should  become  acquainted  with  his  master  while 
he  is  very  young.  He  is,  by  instinct,  inquisitive,  and  will  work 
his  way  up  to  you ;  if  not  frightened  or  hurt  he  can  very  easily 
be  caught  and  held.  The  proper  way  to  catch  him  is  by  placing 
one  hand  under  the  neck  and  the  other  around  the  buttock. 
Handled  in  this  manner  he  will  not  struggle  and  will  soon  learn 
to  stand  quietly  and  fearlessly. 

TEACHING    THE    FOAL    TO    LEAD 

A  light,  well-fitted  halter  should  be  placed  on  the  foal  just  be- 
fore weaning  time  to  accustom  him  to  it  before  he  is  taught  to 
lead  from  it.  Attach  a  small  .rope,  about  five  feet  long,  to.  the 
halter,  then  take  a  rope  about  twelve  feet  long  and  make  a  large 
loop  in  one  end  that  will  fit  over  the  buttocks  at  the  base  of  the 
hams.  With  a  rope  in  each  hand,  give  the  halter  rope  a  gentle 
pull  and  command,  "  come."  If  he  pulls  back  give  the  buttock 
rope  a  gentle-  pull ;  when  the  pressure  is  felt  he  will  naturally 
step  forward.  After  a  few  steps,  place  the  hand  on  the  nose  band 
of  the  halter  and  command,  "  whoa."  Every-day  lessons  will 
soon  render  him  handy  and  he  can  be  led  without  the  buttock 
hitch.  To  teach  him  to  back,  place  the  hand  on  the  nose-band  of 
the  halter  and  the  other  hand  against  the  breast  and  command, 
''  back."  If  he  refuses,  apply  pressure  on  both  nose  and  breast, 
and  he  will  quickly  learn  to  obey. 

TRAINING    TO    STAND    TIED 

The  training  of  the  foal  to  stand  tied  should  come  next.  Place 
a  rope,  with  a  ring  in  one  end,  around  the  loins,  forming  a  slip- 
noose,  with  the  ring  on  the  under  side  of  the  body.  Pass  the  rope 
between  his  fore  legs  and  tie  so  that  the  pressure  on  the  loins  will 
be  felt  if  he  pulls  on  the  halter.  Care  should  be  taken  not  to 
have  too  much  pressure  on  the  halter,  as  colts  often  injure  their 


Tkaixiao  the  Colt  163 

I 

heads  or  necks  bv  pulling.  Pet  and  reward  him  when  he  stands 
quietly,  and  leave  him  tied  only  a  few  minutes  the  first  time. 
Within  a  very  few  days  most  colts  will  stand  tied  anywhere. 

GEXTLING   THE    COLT 

When  tied  the  colt  should  be  handled  from  both  sides;  gentle 
by  patting  and  rubbing  the  hands  about  the  head,  neck,  back  and 
legs.  If  he  shows  a  tendency  to  kick,  use  a  stick  four  or  five  feet 
long.  He  should  be  allowed  to  examine  and  smell  this  stick  before 
his  body  and  legs  are  rubbed.  Continue  with  the  stick  until  he 
will  stand  quietly  while  being  rubbed.  The  second  day,  tie  an 
old  coat  or  rag  on  the  end  of  the  stick  and  repeat  the  first  day's 
lesson.  Accustom  him  to  strange  noises,  unusual  sights  and  fur 
coats  and  robes  until  he  stands  without  fear. 

At  this  time  the  feet  should  be  handled,  trimmed  and  kept  level, 
since  many  blemishes,  such  as  crooked  and  cocked  ankles,  bow-legs, 
side  bones  and  interfering,  are  the  result  of  ill-shapened  feet.  If 
the  colt  is  well  trained  to  stand,  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  true  and 
level  the  feet.  On  the  other  hand,  if  he  is  hard  to  handle  he  will 
not  be  properly  cared  for. 

DRIVING    THE    FOAL    WITH    LINES 

The  foal  should  be  driven  with  lines  at  an  early  age.  This  is 
not  essential,  but  is  a  very  good  practice  to  add  to  his  early  edu- 
cation.  To  do  this  pla^  a  surcingle  with  line  rings  well  down  on 
the  colt.  Hitch  the  lines  on  either  side  of  the  halter  and  pass 
them  through  the  line  rings  on  the  surcingle,  keeping  them  well 
down  on  the  quarters.  Standing  on  the  near  side  well  up  to  the 
shoulder,  with  the  right  line  drawn  around  the  quarters  and  the 
left  line  shortened,  command  him,  "  get  up."  If  he  does  not 
start,  tighten  the  right  line  to  bring  pressure  on  his  buttocks. 
This  will  have  the  same  effect  as  the  rope  did  when  teaching  to 
lead,  and  he  will  start  readily.  Circle  right  and  left  as  well  as 
straight  away.  Use  the  command,  "  whoa,"  and  stop  him  with  a 
hint  from  the  lines  and  not  a  hard  pull  or  jerk.  Stop  and  start 
him  often  to  give  him  confidence. 

After  he  is  handy  to  drive,  teach  him  to  back  from  the  lines. 


164  The  Horse  I^Di'srin    in    Xkw  \'()rk  State 

Drive  him  ahead  a  few  steps,  with  the  coiiiniaiid  ''whoa,"  iiive  a 
steady  pull  and  eommand  "  back."  Keep  straight  behind  him  and 
have  him  step  backward  a  few  steps,  then  drive  ahead  a  short 
distance.  Change  direction  often  and  he  will  soon  back  without 
the  pull  from  the  reins. 

BITTING    AND    MAKING    A    MOUTH 

The  colt  should  be  bitted  at  about  two  years  of  age.  A  good 
mouth  is  very  important  to  any  horse.  It  is  by  means  of  bit,  reins 
and  voice  that  we  convey  our  wnshes  to  the  horse.  He  should  "  go 
up  on  the  bit,"  but  not  beg  or  pull,  and  should  carry  his  head 
straight  when  being  driven,  turned  or  backed.  A  bitting  harness 
or  dumb  jockey  is  used  at  first  to  allow  the  colt  to  do  much  of 
this  work  himself  while  running  in  the  paddock. 

A  bitting  harness  consists  of  a  heavy  surcingle,  back  straps  and 
crupper,  an  open  bridle  equipped  with  a  side  draw  check,  a  large, 
smooth  mouth  bit,  and  a  pair  of  side  reins,  one  on  either  side, 
running  from  the  bit  rings  to  the  surcingle.  The  bit  should  be 
well  up  in  the  mouth,  but  not  tight.  The  check  and  side  reins 
should  be  very  loose  for  the  first  few  lessons.  Then  his  head  should 
gradually  be  drawn  up  and  the  side  lines  shortened  until  he  has 
his  head  well  up  and  straight. 

As  soon  as  he  is  well  bitted  and  accustomed  to  the  harness,  re- 
move the  side  lines  and  substitute  the  driving  reins.  Attach  them 
to  the  bit  and  pass  through  rings  well  down  on  either  side  of  the 
surcingle.  This  will  keep  the  reins  down  on  the  quarters  and 
prevent  the  colt  from  turning  tow^ard  the  trainer,  avoiding  mis-j 
haps.  Some  trainers  leave  the  "  near  "  or  left  rein  out  of  th( 
ring,  making  it  easier  to  control  the  colt  in  case  he  attempts  toj 
run  or  lunge.  He  should  be  guided  from  left  to  right,  should 
start  at  command  "  get  up,"  stop  at  "  whoa,"  and  back  straight 
without  being  pulled  back  by  the  reins.  Drive  him  about,  and 
up  to  strange  objects  and  in  strange  places.  Pass  other  horses 
with  him  and  have  him  stand  while  others  drive  by. 

A  complete  set  of  harness  should  be  used  several  times  before 
he  is  hitched.  Attach  a  piece  of  rope  to  each  trace,  and,  with  the 
reins  in  one  hand  and  the  ropes  in  the  other,  have  him  pull  you 
along  by  his  collar.       If  he  objects  to  the  pull,  start  it  gradually 


Tkaining  the  Colt  165 

while  he  is  moving.  Pole  and  gentle  the  colt  well  before  hitching, 
as  many  kicking  and  runaway  horses  are  made  the  first  time  they 
are  hitched  to  the  cart  or  wagon. 

HITCHING    SINGLE    OR    DOUBLE 

If  the  colt  is  to  be  used  single  it  is  advisable  to  make  his  first 
hitch  single.  The  cart  should  be  strong,  easy  running  and  long 
shafted.  The  long  shafts  are  used  for  two  reasons  —  safety  of  the 
trainer,  and  usually  if  the  colt  kicks  and  does  not  strike  any- 
thing he  will  not  attempt  again.  A  single  safety  or  trip  rope  and 
a  kicking  strap  should  be  added  to  the  harness.  The  trip  rope 
should  be  about  fifteen  feet  long,  one  end  of  which  should  be 
attached  to  a  ring  on  a  strap  around  the  left  front  pastern.  Pass 
the  rope  through  the  ring  attached  to  the  belly  band  of  the  harness. 
Drive  him  around  and  up  to  the  cart  and  let  him  examine  it  well. 
Send  him  into  the  shafts  and  back  the  cart  from  him  as  he  walks 
toward  it. 

The  trainer  should  have  a  helper  for  the  first  two  or  three 
hitches.  The  assistant  should  hold  the  colt  by  the  head  until  all 
hitched ;  then  the  driver  should  take  his  seat  on  the  cart,  the 
helper  remaining  at  the  colt's  head.  Give  the  command  "  get  up  " 
after  he  is  started.  The  assistant  should  hold  the  trip  rope,  and 
if  the  colt  makes  an  attempt  to  run  or  kick,  he  should  pull  up 
the  foot  and  let  the  little  fellow  travel  on  three  legs  until  he  slacks 
his  pace.  Stop  and  start  him  often;  it  will  give  him  confidence 
in  himself  and  master. 

If  the  colt  is  to  be  used  in  a  team,  drive  him  double  first. 
Hitch  him  on  the  off  side  of  a  good-walking,  gentle  and  well- 
broken  horse.  After  he  is  well  trained  to  that  position  shift  him 
to  the  near  side. 

A  fast  walk  is  the  most  valuable  gait  in  a  farm  horse,  so  he 
should  be  taught  to  walk  fast  before  being  allowed  to  trot,  in  order 
to  establish  the  habit.  Never  whip  the  colt  by  objects  of  fear. 
Let  him  stand  and  look  at  them  and  slowly  work  his  way  up.  He 
should  face  the  objects,  and  should  never  be  let  hurry  past  an 
object  or  noise  that  frightens,  him. 

When  training  a  young  horse  for  heavy  draft  do  not  hitch  him 
to  a  dragging  load,  such  as  a  plow  or  harrow,  but  to  something  that 


1()G  The  IIokse  Ia'dustky  in  j^ew  York  State 

will  run  easily  after  started.  Increase  the  load,  and  pull  with 
the  break  on  the  wagon  until  he  has  the  idea  well  fixed  in  his 
mind.  Train  him  to  go  into  the  collar  easily,  pull  steadily  and 
regularly.  The  driver  should  adopt  the  signal  "  steady,"  or  ri\y 
like  command  that  will  warn  him  to  square  himself  for  a  heavy 
pull.     Teach  him  to  back  as  well  as  to  pull  loads  steadily. 

VICIOUS    HORSES 

Few  horses  inherit  vicious  dispositions.  Most  bad  habits  can 
be  traced  to  the  carelessness  or  brutality  of  their  trainer.  A 
trainer  should  study  his  animal  carefully  and  find  the  cause  of 
liis  viciousness  or  whim.  If  a  horse  kicks  his  punishment  must 
follow  immediately  to  be  effective.  Thus  it  will  impress  on  his 
mind  the  idea  that  his  trainer  has  complete  control  over  him  and 
lie  must  obey. 

There  are  many  devices  for  controlling  in  training  —  different 
kinds  of  halters,  bridles  and  twitches,  as  well  as  self -punishing 
harnesses.  A  device  that  will  work  on  one  animal  will  not  always 
help  the  next  one.  A  trainer  must  contrive  a  device  to  meet  his 
needs. 

A  throwing  harness  consists  of  a  heavy  surcingle  equipped 
with  three  rings  wel^  down  on  the  side,  and  a  pair  of  short  straps 
to  buckle  around  the  front  pasterns.  Attach  the  rope  to  the  ring 
on  the  off'  side  of  the  surcingle,  passing  the  long  end  through  the 
ring  on  the  off  foot  strap  back  to  a  ring  on  the  surcingle,  then  to 
the  near  foot  strap,  and  last  through  the  ring  on  the  near  side. 
This  method  gives  you  control  of  both  front  feet.  If  the  animal 
kicks,  bolts,  rears  or  attempts  to  lunge,  he  can  be  pursuaded  that 
he  is  merely  punishing  himself,  and  few  hard  falls  will  usually 
teach  him  to  obey. 


THE  HORSE'S  FEET  AND  THEIR  CARE 

Dr.  C.  W.  Brodiiead,  Montrose,  Pa. 

Farmers'  Institute  Lecturer 
BRIEF    HISTORY   OF   THE    HORSE 

My  paper  at  this  time  will  be  on  a  subject  that  all  persons  are 
interested  in  to  some  extent.  For  who  does  not  like  to  look  at, 
drive,  or  ride  after  a  good  horse?  At  the  head  of  all  animals 
which  have  been  domesticated  by  man  or  rendered  useful  to  man 

—  whether  we  regard  his  noble  form,  his  great  sagacity,  or  the 
manner  in  which  he  is  connected  with  our  profit  and  our  pleasure 

—  stands  the  horse.  One  cannot  travel  to  any  part  of  the  civilized 
world  but  what  he  will  see  and  have  his  attention  called  to  the 
horse  in  some  way.  And  the  one  thing  that  either  makes  him  more 
valuable  or  useless  is  almost  entirely  left  out  of  the  question  — 
the  proper  care  of  his  teeth  and  feet. 

There  are  various  classes  and  divisions  of  domesticated  animals. 
The  horse  ranks  under  the  division  Vertebrated;  the  class,  Mam- 
malia, suckling  their  young;  the  tribe  Angulata,  or  the  hoofed; 
the  order  Pachydermata,  or  thick  skinned ;  and  the  family 
Solipeda,  or  single  hoofed.  The  Solipeda  consists  of  several 
species,  the  horse,  the  mule  and  the  quagga. 

First  stands  the  Equus  Caballus,  or  common  horse.  His  native 
country  cannot  with  certainty  be  traced.  He  has  been  found 
varying  materially  in  size,  form  and  utility  in  all  the  temperate 
climes,  and  in  most  of  the  sultry,  as  well  as  in  many  of  the 
northern  regions  of  the  world. 

In  the  Sacred  Volume,  which  contains  the  oldest  authentic 
record  of  past  events,  we  are  told  that  as  early  as  1650  years 
before  the  birth  of  Christ  the  horse  had  been  domesticated  by  the 
Egyptians ;  1450  years  before  Christ  the  horse  was  so  far  natural- 
ized in  Greece  that  games  were  instituted,  including  chariot  and 
horse  races.  We,  therefore,  have  sufficient  evidence  that  the 
horse  was  at  a  very  early  period  subjected  to  the  dominion  of 
man,  and,  unfortunately,  for  the  worst  of  purposes  —  the  business 
of  war. 

[167] 


168  The  House  Industky  in  New  York  State 

It  appears  remarkable  that  at  about  the  seventh  century  of  our 
era  horses  were  ahnost  extinct,  since  when  Mohammed  attacked 
Koreish  near  Mecca  he  had  but  two  horses.  At  the  close  of  his 
murderous  campaign  he  drove  oft"  24,000  camels,  40,000  sheep 
and  not  one  horse  appears  on  the  list. 

The  earliest  record  of  the  horse  in  Great  Britain  is  contained 
in  the  history  given  by  Julius  Caesar  of  his  invasion  of  that 
island.  We  find  that  the  improvement  of  horses  began  about  the 
eleventh  century  by  William  the  Conqueror,  or  the  j^orman. 

In  the  reigii  of  Henry  I,  A.  D.  1121,  the  first  Arabian  horse 
was  introduced,  and  from  that  time  till  now  there  has  been  a 
continual  improvement  in  the  various  breeds  of  horses.  It  is  not 
my  intention  to  here  discuss  them  at  length,  since  all  localities 
have  their  admirers  of  the  different  kinds,  from  the  Shetland 
Pony  to  noble  Clyde  or  Percheon. 

ANATOMICAL   REVIEW   OF   THE   FOOT 

In  a  description  of  the  foot  of  the  horse  it  is  customary  to  in- 
clude only  the  hoof  and  its  contents,  yet,  from  a  zoological  stand- 
point, the  foot  includes  all  the  leg  from  the  knee  and  the  hock 
dowm. 

The  foot  of  the  horse  is  undoubtedly  the  most  important  part 
of  the  animal  in  so  far  as  veterinary  surgery  is  concerned,  for  the 
reason  that  this  member  is  subject  to  so  many  injuries  and  dis- 
eases, which  in  part  or  in  whole  render  the  patient  unfit  for  the 
labor  demanded  of  him. 

The  old  aphorism  "  no  foot  no  horse"  is  as  true  today  as  when 
first  expressed.  In  fact,  domestication,  coupled  with  the  multi- 
plied uses  to  which  the  animal  is  put,  and  the  constant  repro- 
duction of  hereditary  defects  and  tendencies,  has  largely  trans- 
formed the  ancient  "  companion  of  the  wind  "  into  a  very  common 
piece  of  machinery  which  is  often  out  of  repair,  and  at  best  is 
but  short  lived  in  its  usefulness. 

Since  the  value  of  the  horse  depends  largely  or  even  entirely 
upon  his  ability  to  labor,  it  is  essential  that  his  organs  of  locomo- 
tion should  be  kept  sound ;  and  to  accomplish  this  end  it  is  neces- 
sary not  only  to  know  how  to  cure  all  diseases  to  which  these 
organs  are  liable,  but,  better  still,  how  to  prevent  them. 


The  Horse's  Feet  and  Their  Care  169 

An  important  prerequisite  to  the  detection  and  cure  of  disease 
is  a  knowledge  of  the  construction  and  function  of  the  parts 
which  may  be  involved  in  the  diseased  process ;  hence,  first  of  all 
the  anatomical  structure  must  be  understood. 

The  bones  of  the  fetlock  and  foot  constitute  the  skeleton  on 
which  the  other  structures  are  built,  and  comprise  the  lower  end 
of  the  cannon  bone  (the  metacarpus  in  the  fore  leg  and  the 
metatarsus  in  the  hind  leg),  the  two  sesamoids,  the  large  pastern 
or  suti'ragius,  the  small  pastern  or  coronet,  the  coffin  bone  or 
ospedis,  and  the  small  sesamoid  navicular  bone. 

The  cannon  bone  extends  from  the  knee  or  hock  to  the  fetlock, 
is  cylindrical  in  shape  and  stands  nearly  or  quite  perpendicular. 
The  sesamoids  occur  in  pairs,  are  small,  shaped  like  a  three-faced 
pyramid  and  are  set  behind  the  fetlock  joint  and  the  upper  end 
of  the  sutfragius,  with  the  base  of  the  pyramid  down.  The 
suffragius  is  a  very  compact  bone,  set  in  an  oblique  direction 
downward  and  forward,  and  extends  from  the  cannon  bone  to  the 
coronet.  The  coronet  is  a  short  cube-shaped  bone,  set  between 
the  suffragius  and  coffin  bone  in  the  same  oblique  direction.  The 
coffin  bone  forms  the  end  of  the  foot  and  is  shaped  like  the  horny 
box  in  which  it  is  enclosed.  The  navicular  bone  is  short,  flat- 
tened above  and  below,  and  is  attached  to  the  coffin  bone  behind. 

All  of  these  bones  are  covei-ed  on  the  surface  with  a  cartilage 
or  incrustation  which  goes  to  make  up  the  joints,  w^hile  the  por- 
tions between  are  covered  with  a  fibrous  membrane  called  the 
periosteum. 

The  points  of  the  legs  are  of  especial  importance,  since  any  in- 
terference with  their  function  very  largely  impairs  the  value  of 
the  animal  for  most  purposes.  As  the  points  of  the  foot  and 
ankle  are  at  the  center  of  greatest  concussion  they  are  the  ones 
most  subject  to  injury  and  disease. 

There  are  three  of  these  joints  —  the  fetlock,  pastern,  and 
coffin.  They  are  made  by  the  union  of  two  or  more  bones  held 
together  by  ligaments  of  fibrous  tissues,  and  are  lubricated  by  a 
thick  viscid  fluid,  called  synovia,  w^hich  is  secreted  by  a  special 
membrane  inclosing  the  joints. 

The  fetlock  joint  is  made  by  the  union  of  the  lower  end  of  the 
cannon  bone  and  upper  end  of  the  large  pastern  bone,  supplemented 


170 


The  IIojtsK  Industry  in  New  Yokk  State 


?*£ 


The  Horse's  Feet  and  Theie  Care  171 

by  the  two  sesamoids,  so  placed  behind  the  upper  end  of  the 
pastern  that  the  joint  is  capable  of  a  very  extensive  motion. 
These  bones  are  held  together  by  ligaments,  only  one  of  which  — 
the  suspensory  —  demands  special  mention. 

The  suspensory  ligament  of  the  fetlocks,  starting  from  the  knee 
extends  down  behind  the  cannon,  lying  between  the  two  splint 
bones,  until  near  the  fetlock,  w^here  it  divides  and  sends  a  branch 
downward  and  forward  on  either  side  of  the  joint,  to  become  at- 
tached on  the  sides  of  the  extensor  at  the  lower  end  of  the  pastern 
hone.  As  it  crosses  the  sesamoids  on  the  posterior  borders  of  the 
fetlock  it  throws  out  libers  which  hold  it  fast  to  these  bones. 

The  pastern  joint  is  made  by  the  union  of  the  two  pastern 
bones.  The  cofHn  joint  is  made  by  the  union  of  the  small 
pastern,  coffin,  and  small  sesamoid  or  navicular  bones,  the  latter 
being  set  behind  and  beneath  the  joint  surface  of  the  coffin  bone 
in  such  a  way  as  to  largely  receive  the  w^eight  of  the  small 
pastern. 

Three  tendons  serve  to  move  the  bones  of  the  foot,  one  on 
another.  Two  of  these  flex  or  bend  the  joints,  while  the  third  ex- 
tends or  straightens  the  column  of  bones. 

The  flexor  pedis  perforans,  or  deep  flexor  of  the  foot,  passes 
down  behind  the  cannon  bone,  lying  against  the  suspensory  liga- 
ment in  front,  crosses  the  fetlock  joint  in  the  groove  made  by 
the  union  of  the  sesamoids,  and  is  attached  to  the  bottom  of  the 
coffin  bone,  after  covering  the  navicular  by  a  wide  expansion  of 
its  fibers.  It  is  the  function  of  the  tendon  to  flex  the  coffin  bone, 
and  with  it  the  horny  box. 

The  flexor  pedis  perforatus,  superficial  flexor  of  the  foot,  fol- 
lows the  course  of  the  preceding  tendon  and  is  attached  to  the 
middle  of  the  ankle.  The  function  of  this  tendo^n  is  to  flex  the 
foot  at  the  fetlock. 

The  extensor  pedis  runs  down  in  front  of  the  leg,  is  attached 
on  the  most  prominent  point  of  the  coffin  bone,  and  has  for  its 
function  the  straightening  of  the  bones  of  the  ankle  and  foot. 

The  bones,  ligaments  and  tendons  are  covered  by  a  loose  con- 
nective tissue,  which  gives  symmetry  to  the  parts  by  filling  up  and 
rounding  off,  and  all  are  protected  by  the  skin  and  hoof. 

The  skin  of  the  fetlock  and  ankle  is  generally  characterized  by 


172  The  Hokse  Industry  tn  New  York  State 

its  thickness  and  the  lenG;th  of  its  hairs,  especially  around  the 
hind  parts  of  the  fetlock  joints  in  certain  breeds  of  horses.  The 
most  important  part  of  this  envelope  is  that  known  as  the  coronary 
hand.  The  coronary  band  is  that  portion  of  the  skin  which 
secretes  the  horn  of  which  the  wall  of  the  hoof  is  made.  The 
horn  much  resembles  the  nails  which  grow  on  the  fingers  and 
toes  of  man.  It  is  composed  of  hollow,  cylindrical  tubes,  extend- 
ing from  the  coronary  band  to  the  lower  border  of  the  hoof,  which 
are  held  together  by  tenanious  opaque  matter. 

The  hoof  is  a  box  of  horn,  consisting  of  a  wall,  sole  and  frog, 
and  contains,  besides  the  coffin,  navicular  and  part  of  the  small 
pastei'n  bones,  the  sensitive  laminae,  plantar  cushion  and  the 
lateral  cartilages. 

The  sole  of  the  foot  incloses  the  box  on  the  ground  surface,  is 
shaped  like  the  circumference  of  the  foot,  except  that  a  V-shaped 
opening  is  left  behind  for  the  reception  of  the  frog,  and  is  con- 
caved on  the  lower  surface.  The  sole  is  produced  by  the  velvety 
tissue  —  a  thin  membrane  covering  the  plantar  cushion  —  and 
other  soft  tissues  beneath  the  coffin  bone. 

The  horn  of  the  sole  differs  from  the  horn  of  the  wall  in  that  ■, 
its  tubes   are  not  straight  and  it  scales   off  in  pieces  over  the 
entire  surface. 

The  frog  is  a  triangular-shaped  body,  divided  into  two  equal 
parts  by  a  deep  fissure,  extending  from  its  apex  in  front  to  the 
base.  It  fills  a  triangular  space  in  the  sole  to  which  it  is  ulti- 
mately attached  by  its  borders. 

The  horn  of  the  frog  is  produced  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
sole,  but  it  differs  from  both  the  wall  and  sole  in  that  the  ho.rn  is 
soft  and  moist,  and  elastic  to  a  remarkable  degree.  It  is  the 
function  of  the  frog  to  destroy  shock  and  to  prevent  slipping. 

The  sensitive  laminae  are  thin  plates  of  soft  tissue  covering 
the  entire  anterior  surface  of  the  coffin  bone.  They  are  present 
in  great  numbers;  and,  by  filing  into  corresponding  grooves  on 
the  inner  surface  of  the  horn  of  the  wall,  the  union  of  the  soft 
and  horny  tissues  is  made  complete. 

The  plantar  cushion  is  a  thick  pad  of  fibrous  tissue  placed  be- 
hind and  under  the  navicular  and  coffin  bones,  and  resting  on  the 
sole  and  frog.  Its  purpose  is  to  receive  the  downward  presure 
of  the  column  of  bones  and  to  destro\'  shock. 


The  Horse's  Feet  and  Their  Care  173 

The  lateral  cartilages  are  attached,  one  on  either  side  of  the 
wings  of  the  coffin  bone,  by  their  inferior  borders.  They  are 
thin  plates  of  fibro  cartilage,  and  their  function  is  to  assist  the 
frog  and  adjacent  strnctiires  in  regaining  their  proper  position 
after  having  been  displaced  by  the  weight  of  the  body  while  the 
foot  rested  on  the  ground. 

FAULTS    OF    CONFORMATION 

A  large  percentage  of  the  horses  have  feet  which  are  not  perfect 
in  conformation.  As  a  consequence  of  these  imperfections  they 
are  especially  predisposed  to  certain  injuries  and  diseases. 

Flat  feet  is  that  condition  in  which  the  sole  has  little  or  no 
convexity.  It  is  a  peculiarity  common  to  some  breeds,  especially 
heavy,  l_>Tnphatic  animals  raised  on  low  marshy  soils.  It  is  con- 
lined  to  the  fore  feet,  which  are  generally  broad,  with  low  heels 
and  a  wall  less  upright  than  is  seen  in  the  perfect  foot. 

In  the  flat  foot  there  can  be  little  or  no  elasticity  in  the  sole 
for  the  reason  that  it  has  no  arch,  and  the  weight  of  the  animal 
is  received  on  the  entire  plantar  surface,  instead  of  on  the  wall, 
as  the  foot  rests  upon  the  ground.  For  these  reasons  such  feet 
are  particularly  liable  to  bruises  of  the  sole,  to  corns,  pumiced  sole, 
and  excessive  suppuration  when  the  process  is  once  established. 

So  far  as  possible,  horses  with  flat  feet  should  be  shod  with  a 
shoe  having  a  wide  web,  but  a  great  many  of  such  horses  cannot 
stand  the  pressure  on  the  coflin  bone.  In  such  cases  I  shoe  around 
the  outer  edge  with  a  narrow-web  bar  shoe,  just  paring  the  frog 
and  heels  enough  to  give  a  level  bearing,  and  to  keep  the  frog  from 
turning  to  one  side  or  the  other.  The  heels  of  the  shoe  are  then 
a  little  higher  than  the  toe,  and  the  foot  is  kept  as  narrow  and  as 
short  as  possible.  In  this  way  I  have  been  able  to  greatly  improve 
some  very  bad  cases  of  flat  feet. 

The  walls  of  flat  feet  are  generally  weak,  and  to  improve  the 
foot  the  nails  should  be  as  small  as  the  work  of  the  horse  will 
permit.  They  should  not  be  driven  too  high,  but  so  as  to  get  a  low 
deep  hold  in  the  hoof.  Never  let  the  shoe  get  loose  and  crumble 
the  shell  off  the  hoof. 

Club  foot  is  the  term  applied  to  such  feet  as  have  the  walls  set 
nearly  perpendicular.     When  this  condition  is  present  the  heels 


174  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

are  high,  the  fetlock  joint  is  thrown  forward  or  knuckles,  and  the 
weight  of  the  animal  is  received  on  the  toes.  Many  mules  are 
club  footed,  especially  behind,  where  it  seems  to  cause  little  or 
no  inconvenience.  As  a  rule  special  shoeing  is  the  only  measure  of 
relief  that  can  be  adopted.  The  toe  should  not  be  pared,  but  the 
heels  should  be  lowered  as  much  as  possible.  The  shoe  is  put 
on  with  a  long  protecting  toe-piece  slightly  turned  up,  while  the 
heels  of  the  shoe  are  made  thin. 

Crooked  feet  is  that  condition  in  which  one  side  of  the  wall  is 
higher  than  the  other.  If  the  inside  wall  is  the  higher,  the 
ankle  is  thrown  outward  so  that  the  fetlock  joints  are  abnormally 
wide  apart  and  the  toes  close  together.  Animals  with  this  de- 
formity are  pigeon  toed  and  are  prone  to  interfere,  the  inside 
toe  striking  the  opposite  fetlock.  If  but  one  foot  is  affected,  the 
other  being  perfect,  the  liability  to  interfere  is  still  greater  for 
the  reason  that  the  fetlock  of  the  perfect  leg  is  more  near  the 
center  plane. 

When  the  outside  heel  is  the  higher  the  ankle  is  thrown  in  and 
the  toe  turns  out.  Horses  with  such  feet  interfere  with  the  heel. 
If  but  one  foot  is  so  affected  the  liability  to  interfere  is  less  than 
where  both  feet  are  affected,  for  the  reason  that  the  ankle  of  the 
perfect  leg  is  not  so  near  the  center  line.  Such  animals  are 
especially  liable  to  stumbling  and  to  lameness  from  injury  to  the 
ligaments  of  the  fetlock  joints.  The  deformity  is  to  be  over- 
come by  such  shoeing  as  will  equalize  the  disparity  in  length  of 
walls,  and  by  proper  boots  to  protect  the  fetlock  from  interfering. 

INTRODUCTION    OF    SHOEING 

The  period  when  the  shoe  began  to  be  nailed  to  the  foot  of  the 
horse  is  uncertain,  but  it  is  supposed  that  Hannibal  used  artificial 
coverings  for  the  horses'  feet  in  crossing  the  Alps  with  12,000 
horses  and  90,000  men  on  foot  200  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ. 
It  is  also  believed  that  William  the  Norman  was  first  to  introduce 
it  in  England,  and  it  is  stated  that  he  used  iron  for  that  purpose. 
In  some  countries  other  material  was  used,  mostly  rawhide. 

It  is  sometimes  argued  that  if  you  do  not  begin  to  shoe  horses 
when  they  are  colts  you  will  not  need  to  shoe  them  at  all.  That 
would  obtain  in  some  sections  of  our  country,  but  I  assure  vou  it 


The  Horse's  Feet  and  Their  Care  175 

is  not  a  success  in  any  part  of  our  state,  the  land  being  too  stony 
and  hilly.  I  have  seen  a  number  of  good  colts  ruined  by  running 
in  stony  and  hilly  pastures.  They  would  wear  off  the  heel  to 
such  an  extent  that  it  caused  them  to  become  ankle  cocked,  and 
it  also  elfected  the  coffin  joint  on  the  hind  foot.  I  have  in  my 
time  shod  a  number  of  two-year-olds  that  became  lame  from  their 
feet  wearing  off  in  the  pasture. 

IMPROVING    shoeing 

Since  it  is  an  absolute  necessity  to  shoe  horses  in  this  part  of 
the  country,  let  us  see  if  we  cannot  make  some  improvement  on 
the  manner  in  which  it  is  being  done  by  most  of  my  fellow  crafts- 
men, especially  by  those  that  are  shoeing  our  farmers'  horses. 

In  my  observation  during  the  last  twenty-five  years  while  travel- 
ing in  this  and  other  states,  I  have  given  particular  attention  to 
the  appearance  of  horses'  feet  on  the  streets  of  our  cities  as  well 
as  on  our  country  roads.  I  can  safely  say  without  successful  con- 
tradiction that  75  per  cent  of  the  horses  are  improperly  shod,  and 
that  50  per  cent  of  the  horses  in  our  state  have  their  days 
shortened  25  per  cent  by  improper  cutting  and  haggling  of  their 
feet  by  incompetent  persons,  who  nail  iron  to  their  feet  —  I  can- 
not call  it  shoeing  in  any  sense. 

At  this  point  I  should  like  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  I 
do  not  claim  to  be  an  expert  in  shoeing  trotting  horses.  My  time 
is  entirely  taken  up  with  the  study  and  shoeing  of  road  and  draft 
horses  and  general  purpose  horses  that  are  used  in  our  agricul- 
tural districts. 

Duty  and  justice  require  that  as  the  horse  increases  in  powers 
of  usefulness  for  all  purposes  of  life,  he  deserves  wiser  and  better 
protection  than  is  given  him  by  those  who  doom  him  to  a  life  of 
painful  labor  or  constant  lameness. 

Since  a  large  proportion  of  the  defects  in  horses'  feet  originate 
and  are  developed  by  bad  methods  of  farriery,  it  surely  must  be 
of  sufficient  impo-rtance  to  every  man  who  values  his  horse  to  de- 
mand better  service  in  the  shoeing.  At  the  same  time  he  should 
be  willing  to  pay  a  fair  price  for  good  work  if  it  is  in  his  power 
to  get  it  done.  Though  he  may  be  put  to  some  inconvenience,  it 
will  amply  pay  in  the  long  run. 


176 


The  lioKSE  Industky  in  New  York  State 


The  Hoese's  Feet  axd  Their  Care  177 

What  farmer  would  think  of  going  into  a  ten-acre  lot  with  the 
old-fashioned  scythe  when  we  have  the  improved  mowing 
machines,  or  into  a  field  of  the  same  size  with  such  plows  as*  were 
used  fifty  years  ago  ? 

All  the  arts  and  sciences  are  fifty  years  ahead  of  that  of  horse 
shoeing  in  the  farming  districts.  Do  not  the  same  conditions 
exist  today  in  the  majority  of  the  rural  shops  as  did  fifty  years 
ago  ?  The  old  scythe  blade  for  trimming  the  feet,  the  buttress 
to  cut  away  the  heel,  the  shoe  set  on  an  inch  or  so  back  of  the 
toe,  and  the  old  scythe  blade  and  hammer  to  cut  off  the  over  pro- 
jecting toe !  Xumber  eight  nails  are  used  in  many  cases,  when 
num-ber  six  are  too  larga  But  the  shoers  are  not  to  blame;  it  is 
the  fault  of  the  horse  owners  in  not  demanding  a  better  class  of 
workmen  to  shoe  their  horses,  and  theiu  unwillingTiess  to  pay  a 
fair  price  for  the  work. 

IMPORTANCE   OF   BREEDING   FROM   SOUND  ANIMALS 

The  main  point  I  wish  to  bring  to  your  attention  is  the  treat- 
ment of  the  feet  of  the  horse.  It  has  long  been  an  observed  fact 
in  breeding  that  "like  begets  like";  that  is,  that  the  peculiarities 
of  parents  are  likely  to  appear  in  their  offspring.  It  follows  then 
that  when  parents  are  chosen,  whose  form,  appearance,  etc.,  are 
those  desired  by  the  breeder,  there  is  considerable  probability  that 
their  ofi'spring  will  be  similarly  characterized.  Therefore,  the 
breeder  who  possesses  a  high  ideal  and  wishes  to  realize  it,  will 
select  as  sires  of  his  future  stock  animals  that  conform  to  his 
ideal.  In  other  words,  he  will  breed  only  from  the  best.  He  may 
be  able  to  overlook  the  fact  that  a  sire  or  dam  has  not  the  mane  or 
tail  he  may  desire,  but  in  no  case  should  he  overlook  a  sire  or  dam 
with  poor  feet  or  teeth.  It  has  been  my  experience  that  "  like 
begets  like  "  more  in  this  respect  that  in  any  other  characteristic, 
since  these  parts  are  brought  in  action  at  the  beginning  of  the 
colt's  existence.  So  the  care  of  these  parts  should  begin  before 
birth. 

SHOEING    COLTS 

No  colt  should  be  put  to  pasture  without  having  his  feet  pared 
and  leveled.    This  should  be  done  regularly  every  six  months  from 
the  time  the  colt  is  one  year  old. 
12 


178 


The  Hokse  Industky  in  New  York  State 


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The  Hokse's  Feet  and  Their  Cake  1Y9 

The  balance  and  action  of  many  colts  are  impaired  before  they 
arrive  at  an  age  of  usefulness.  After  a  colt  once  has  been  shod 
it  should  generally  be  followed  up.  But  let  me  urge  that  you 
have  it  done  by  a  good  sheer  —  one  who  has  good  judgment  to  do 
it  well  and  at  the  same  time  educate  the  colt  as  to  what  is  ex- 
pected of  him. 

Do  not  shoe  too  heavily  or  with  too  thick  calks.  Plate  shoes 
are  the  best  if  the  work  to  be  done  will  permit.  Do  not  let  the 
nails  be  too  large  or  driven  too  high  in  the  hoof.  The  best 
method  is  not  to  turn  the  clinches  down  at  all,  but  rasp  them 
smooth  to  the  hoof.  Under  no  circumstances  let  a  rasp  be  rubbed 
above  the  nails,  or  let  the  hoof  be  sandpapered,,  since  this  breaks 
the  enamel  of  the  hoof,  causing  it  to  become  brittle,  hard  and 
shelly,  which  condition  will  in  time  bring  on  quarter  and  toe 
cracks. 

QUARTER  AND  TOE  CRACKS 

In  case  of  quarter  and  toe  cracks  have  the  bottom  of  the  foot 
well  pared  out  and  all  the  hard  substance  of  the  frog  cut  away, 
so  as  to  give  elasticity  to  the  bottom  of  the  foot.  Then  with  a 
hot  lance  separate  the  hoof  at  the  coronet,  and  soften  with  veteri- 
nary Petrolina  or  some  other  good  hoof  ointment. 

TREATING  CORNS 

There  are  various  causes  for  corns  appearing  in  the  foot  of 
the  horse,  such  as  leaving  the  shoes  on  too  long,  uneven  paring 
of  the  foot,  uneven  shoes  resting  too  heavily  on  the  heels,  having 
the  heels  pared  too  low,  high  toe  calks  and  low  heel  calks,  driving 
at  a  high  speed  down  hill,  causing  the  sensitive  parts  of  the  heel 
to  be  bruised  by  coining  in  contact  with  stones  and  other  hard 
substances,  and  standing  on  hard,  dry  board  floors.  Remedy: 
shoe  with  low  toes  and  slightly  elevated  heels;  cut  out  the  seat 
of  the  corn,  and  fill  the  cavity  well  with  hoof  ointment  and  okum. 
Reset  the  shoes  as  often  as  once  in  three  or  four  weeks,  relieving 
the  pressure  on  the  heel  as  much  as  possible  at  each  setting.  •  I 
sometimes  fire  and  blister  just  over  the  heel,  and  that  starts  a 
new  and  quick  growth  of  the  hoof. 

Often  the  heel  is  cut  too  low  and  causes  lameness  just  where 
the  cord  runs  over  the  nut  bone.     If  such  should  be  the  case  it 


180  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  Yokk  State 

will  show  itself  in  this  way  —  the  horse  will  he  lame  when  he  first 
starts  off,  but  will  get  better  as  he  warms  up.  Remedy :  raise 
the  heel  of  the  shoe  and  lower  the  toe.  Pack  the  foot  with  oint- 
ment and  okum. 

ANKLE-COCKED    HORSES 

Ankle-cocked  horses  may  be  benefited  by  paring  off  the  toe  well, 
and  putting  on  a  shoe  having  slightly  elevated  heels  calks  with 
the  shoe  running  well  back  behind.  Knee-sprung  horses  may 
also  be  benefited  by  paring  off  the  toe,  raising  the  heel  slightly  and 
feeding  from  the  floor  at  a  level  with  his  feet. 

CONTRACTION 

Contraction  may  be  relieved  by  paring  the  foot  well  down  and 
putting  on  a  shoe  with  the  heel  bearing  slightly  convex  so  as  to 
have  a  natural  tendency  to  press  the  heel  open.  The  shoes  should 
be  nailed  only  at  the  toe,  and  not  farther  back  than  the  side  quarter. 
Only  six  nails  should  be  used.  A  good  ointment  should  be  -applied 
to  hasten  the  growth  aud  soften  all  parts  of  the  foot. 

FORGING 

One  of  the  worst  troubles  caused  by  bad  shoeing  —  and  that 
most  found  in  horses  in  the  country  —  is  forging  or  overreaching. 
This  condition  may  be  remedied  by  putting  fair  lengthed  shoes 
on  both  fore  and  hind  feet.  The  heel  calks  should  be  slightly  ele- 
vated, and  the  toe  on  the  hind  foot  set  back  so  that  the  hoof  is  left 
to  project  over  the  shoe  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch. 

TREADING  ON  NAILS 

In  case  a  horse  steps  on  a  nail,  or  anything  penetrates  the  foot, 
do  not  delay  in  having  it  cut  open  so  as  to  let  the  blood  start 
freely.  Cut  away  the  hard  hoof  and  make  a  good  opening  and 
fill  with  soft  okum  and  ointment.  Open  it  every  three  or  four 
days  until  all  inflammation  ceases ;  then  there  will  be  slight  danger 
of  lockjaw. 

INTERFERING 

Interfering  in  horses  may  be  remedied  by  properly  balancing 
the  foot.     Build  it  up  with  a  thick,  long-sided  shoe,  bringing  the 


The  Horse's  Feet  a^b  Their  Care  181 

toe  of  the  foot  straight  in  line  with  the  body.  The  inside  of  the 
foot  should  be  kept  smooth,  and  the  nails  should  not  be  per- 
mitted to  come  ont  of  the  shoes  to  twist  across  the  foot,  as  I  have 
seen  done  in  many  p  case.  This  is  apt  to  cause  sores  that  may 
run  into  scratches,  grease  heel,  big  ankles  and  lame  horses. 

DO  XOT  BURN  THE  HOOF 

The  practice  of  clipping  and  burning  the  hoof  is  very  destruc- 
tive. Using  the  language  of  Prof.  Russell :  "  Burning  the  sole 
will  in  time  partially  destroy  the  sensitive  laminae  and  impair 
the  membraneous  lining  underneath  the  coffin  bone,  as  well  as 
closing  the  pores  on  the  horn,  causing  the  hoof  to  become  dry, 
hard  and  brittle.  It  also  impedes  to  a  certain  extent,  as  a  neces- 
sary consequence,  the  healthy  growth  of  the  foot  and  hoof." 

The  advocates  of  hot-fitting  present  many  specious  reasons  for 
the  furtherance  of  the  practice.  It  is  alleged  that  shoes  cannot  be 
fitted  so  rapidly  nor  so  closely  by  means  other  than  hot  fitting, 
and  this  is  generally  true;  for  by  this  means  the  hoof  is  burned 
to  correspond  with  inequalities  w^hich  occur  on  the  surface  of  the 
shoes,  until  the  latter  is  thoroughly  imbeded  in  the  horn.  On  the 
other  hand,  this  fusing  of  the  horn  is  in  opposition  to  its  right 
growth  and  operation,  and  it  is  the  prolific  source  of  many  evils 
and  abuses.  The  horn,  being'  a  non-conductor  of  heat,  is  slowly 
aft'ected  by  it.  It  is  said  that  three  minutes  burning  of  the  lower 
face  of  the  sole  is  necessary  to  produce  any  indicatioai  of  increase 
of  temperature  on  its  upper  surface.  This  is  a  fallacy,  as  I  have 
proven  many  times  by  operating  upon  green  specimens  with  soles 
of  varied  thickness.  The  soles  of  ordinary  depth  were  penetrated 
by  heat  when  heated  shoes  were  applied  for  the  time  specified, 
and  the  sensitive  sole  was  found  to  be  scorched.  The  laminae  in 
their  connections  with  the  sole  were  burned  and  charred.  In  the 
living  subject  these  effects  would  have  brought  serious  results. 
My  experiments  have  convinced  me  that  the  foot  of  the  horse  may 
in  no  sense  be  compared  to  an  inanimate  block  of  wood  which 
may  be  charred  and  carved  as  caprice  may  dictate.  It  is  filled 
with  life  and  feeling,  and  therefore  its  treatment  requires 
thought,  care  and  skill. 

The  economy  of  labor  attained  in  the  process  of  hot-fitting  will, 


182  The  Horse  Txdustky  in  New  York  State 

I  am  sure,  never  coiinterbalaiicc  its  evil  effects.  While  it  is  true 
that  more  shoes  can  be  fitted  in  a  given  time  by  the  hot  process 
than  bv  the  cold,  this  is  no  argument  against  the  expediency  of 
the  latter.  I,  myself,  never  put  a  hot  shoe  to  the  foot  so  as  to  leave 
a  mark  ;  neither  do  1  allow  my  help  to  do  this.  A  man  who  cannot 
fit  a  shoe  to  a  foot  level  with  the  hoof  parers  —  round  knife  and 
rasp  —  is  not  a  fit  person  to  be  trusted  to  handle  as  delicate  a 
a  piece  of  machinery  as  the  horse's  foot.  So  my  advice  is,  do  not 
let  any  one  put  a  hot  shoe  to  your  horses'  feet,  as  it  will  surely 
bring  bad  results. 

CLIPS   SHOULD   NOT    BE    USED 

Clipping  shoes  is  another  bad  habit  of  our  best  as  well  as  the 
poorest  horseshoers.  It  does  no  good,  and  in  many  cases  results  in 
harm.  In  my  opinion  it  does  not  add  to  the  looks  of  the  foot  in 
any  way.  A  shoe  that  is  perfectly  level  on  a  level  foot,  set  on 
with  eight  good  nails  driven  in  the  foot  properly,  will  not  come 
off  in  a  reasonable  time.  So  do  not  have  your  shoes  clipped  unless 
absolutely  necessary. 

PARING  THE  FROG 

I  am  very  often  asked  the  question.  Do  you  pare  the  frog?  My 
answer  is  this :  I  do  if  the  frog  needs  it ;  I  use  just  as  much 
judgment  as  when  paring  the  hoof.  So  long  as  the  frog  is  in  good 
shape  I  do  not  deem  it  necessary,  but  when  it  either  bears  to  one 
side  or  the  other,  or  becomes  hard  and  does  not  scale  oft'  as  nature 
intended,  paring  is  required. 


I 
1 


CARE  OF  HORSES'  TEETH 
Dr.  C.  W.  Brodhead,  Montrose,  Pa., 

Farmers'   Institute  Lecturer 

The  science  of  horse  dentistry  has  been  sadly  neglected  m  the 
rural  districts,  and  by  that  lack  of  knowledge  on  the  part  of  horse 
owners  mnch  of  the  usefulness  of  the  horse  is  lost. 

Xenophon  said  more  than  2,000  years  ago,  "  'No  foot,  no  horse,'' 
and  at  this  time  I  will  add,  "  No  tooth,  no  horse."  After  forty 
years  of  shoeing  horses  and  thirty-six  years  of  caring  for  the  teeth, 
having  in  that  time  been  a  close  observer  and  investigator,  I  can 
safely  say  that  25  per  cent  of  the  economy  of  the  horse  is  lost  in 
this  country  by  neglecting  these  two  members  of  the  body  ;  and  it  is 
my  design  to  try  to  give  some  points  that  may  lead  to  the  better 
care  of  the  teeth  on  the  part  of  horse  owners. 

I  often  hear  this  remark :  "  Why,  my  father  always  kept 
horses  and  he  never  gave  any  thought  to  the  care  of  their  teeth." 
That  may  be  true,  but  many  a  horse's  days  have  been  shortened 
by  not  having  such  attention.  In  fact,  until  the  last  few  years  no 
one  was  qualified  to  do  anything  to  horses'  teeth ;  dentistry  was 
one  of  the  last  branches  of  veterinary  science  taken  up  by  Ameri- 
can colleges. 

Originally,  the  horse's  teeth  were  perfectly  fitted  for  grazing 
and  grinding,  but  man  has  changed  the  food  from  soft,  tender, 
juicy  grasses  to  hard,  dry,  woody,  fibrous  food,  which  taxes  the 
teeth  more  than  soft  food. 

There  have  been  many  fakes  handed  down  from  time  to  time 
by  "  boss  men  "  which  many  people  think  are  true  and  do  not 

stop  to  consider  how  inconsistent  they  may  be such  as  telling  the 

exact  age  of  a  horse  by  his  teeth,  wolf  teeth  causing  blindness,  and 
many  other  things  I  might  mention. 

The  mare  has  only  thirty-six  teeth,  as  she  is  minus  the  canine 
tushes  or  bridle  teeth,  as  they  are  generally  called.     The  male  or 

[183] 


184 


The  Horse  Tndtstky  of  New  York  State 


[U: 


y. 


a  fa 


o  H  q 


M    H   >, 


|>    Oh  I 


Care  of  Horses'  Teeth  185 

stallion  has  forty  teeth.  The  bridle  teeth  in  most  cases  show  them- 
selves any  time  from  two  and  one-half  to  eight  years  of  age  — 
sometimes  in  early  castrations  they  may  not  appear  in  the  gelding ; 
I  have  found  snch  cases. 

The  colt  begins  to  shed  the  milk  teeth  at  the  age  of  two  and  one- 
half  years,  and  should  have  a  full  mouth  at  five  years,  but  that 
is  not  always  the  case.  I  have  many  times  taken  out  both  the 
corner  incisors  and  the  molars  at  six  years  old,  and  I  have  known 
that  the  horse  had  been  badly  kept;  hence  both  body  and  limb 
had  not  fully  developed,  and  the  teeth  were  retarded  likewise. 

The  jaws  of  the  horse  are  peculiar  in  their  makeup,  the  under 
jaw  being  from  one  and  one-half  to  two  and  one  half  inches 
narrower  than  the  upper  jaw  and  forming  what  may  be  called  a 
convex-and-concave  surface,  as  the  long  points  on  the  upper  jaw 
are  outside,  pushing  against  the  cheek,  and  the  long  points  on  the 
lower  jaw  are  inside,  pushing  against  the  tongue.  Since  the 
sharp  points  do  not  break  or  wear  off,  they  cut  the  cheeks  and 
tongue  and  cause  sores.  This  can  be  remedied  by  properly  floating 
the  long  points  off",  thus  giving  the  teeth  a  chance  to  get  a  full 
grinding  surface.  Often  when  the  colt  begins  to  shed  his  teeth, 
the  shells  or  milk  teeth  will  be  crowded  out  by  the  permanent 
teeth.  Owing  to  the  convex-and-concave  surface  they  are  fre- 
quently crowded  against  the  cheek  or  tongue,  causing  the  same 
trouble  as  the  sharp  points  in  older  horses.  They  should  be  taken 
out  to  give  the  new  teeth  a  chance  to  come  in  proper  line. 

From  many  causes,  horses  will  have  split  or  broken  teeth,  others 
becoming  decayed  and  hollow.  It  is  necessary  to  extract  such  teeth, 
iind  then  every  year  or  two  the  tooth  opposite  will  need  to  be  filed 
or  cut  off ;  since,  if  there  is  nothing  to  wear  against  it,  it  will  grow 
down  or  up,  as  the  case  may  be,  and  wear  into  the  cavity  and 
cause  trouble.  The  teeth  on  the  upper  jaw  are  always  growing 
down  and  out,  while  the  under  teeth  are  always  gi'owing  up  and 
out.  In  the  case  of  a  six-year-old  the  teeth  may  set  in  the  jaws 
one  and  one-half  inches,  when  at  twenty  they  may  just  hang  to 
the  jaw,  and  at  twenty-five  many  of  them  may  be  entirely  gone. 

There  are  many  things  to  be  taken  into  consideration  at  this 
point,  since  some  breeds  or  horses  have  better  teeth  than  others ; 
also,  horses  grazing  or  being  fed  on  hay  that  is  cut  from  low  sandy 


186  The  Hoese  Industry  in  New  York  State 

bottoms  —  especially  that  land  overflowed  by  rivers  or  creeks  — 
will  show  wear  on  the  teeth  much  faster  than  those  grazing  or  fed 
on  hay  cut  from  hillsides  where  there  is  not  much  grit  or  sand 
in  the  grass  or  hay.  This  holds  good  as  to  both  the  incisors  and  the 
molars,  A  horse  that  is  generally  stabled  will  not  show  so  much 
wear  on  the  incisors  as  a  horse  that  is  in  pasture  a  good  share 
of  his  life,  for  the  reason  that  in  the  constant  nipping  close  to 
the  earth  he  comes  in  contact  with  more  or  less  stones  and  grit 
that  are  not  carried  to  the  molars.  In  judging  a  horse  for  useful- 
ness I  look  to  the  worth  of  his  molars  and  how  badly  they  are 
impaired,  giving  very  little  attention  to  the  incisors. 

The  wolf  or  rudimentary  tooth  is  supposed  by  many  to  be  the 
cause  of  blindness.  That  is  not  generally  true,  as  it  is  very  rarely 
that  there  is  enough  inflammation  to  cause  impairment  of  the  eye- 
sight. Many  cases  that  I  have  examined  and  treated  were  caused 
by  the  molars  crowding  the  cheek  and  causing  sores  and  ulcers. 
This  trouble  may  be  relieved  by  filing  off  the  sharp  points,  thus 
removing  the  cause. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  symptoms  of  conditions  that  may 
be  remedied  by  having  the  teets  attended  to :  staring  coat,  hide- 
bound, scouring,  slobbering  when  being  driven,  dropping  par- 
tially chewed  food  in  the  manger,  gnawing  the  manger,  running 
at  the  eyes,  side-lining,  tossing  the  head,  periodical  balking, 
spasmodic  colic,  and  many  troubles  I  cannot  here  mention. 

Painful  mastication  and  resultant  indigestion,  the  primary 
cause  of  most  stomach  troubles  of  the  horse,  are  due  to  defective 
teeth.  Take  care  of  the  old  horse's  teeth  and  be  sure  to  look 
well  to  the  colts'  teeth  during  the  shedding  period,  as  the  horse  is 
subject  to  the  same  laws  as  man,  and  needs  the  care  of  the  dentist. 


FEED  AND  CARE  OF  THE  HORSE 

F.  C.  MiNKLER,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

Associate   Professor   of   Animal   Husbandry,   New   Jersey   Agricultural 
Experiment  Station 

The  feeding  of  work  horses  involves 
not  so  mnch  a  scientific  knowledge  of  nu- 
trition as  it  does  the  art  of  applying  com- 
mon sense  methods  and  observations. 
Given  two  men  with  two  teams  of  work- 
ing horses  and  all  the  feed  and  rough- 
age necessary  for  maintenance  and  de- 
velopment :  the  one  who  is  the  mere  team- 
ster will  generally  utilize  twice  as  much 
feed,  and  bring  his  charges  through  at 
the  end  of  the  season  in  a  less  desirable  condition  than  the 
practical  horseman  who  loves  his  charges  and  watches  and  feeds 
them  in  accordance  with  practical  common  sense  methods.  If 
the  old  saying  that  "  a  bushel  of  care  is  worth  two  bushels  of 
feed  "  applies  to  any  line  of  live  stock  management,  it  is  applicable 
to  the  feeding  of  farm  work  horses.  Success  in  the  feeding  of 
horses  is  not  the  automatic  process  of  putting  in  so  many  pounds 
of  feed  and  supplementing  this  with  so  many  pounds  of  roughage, 
permitting  the  horse  to  be  his  own  judge;  but  rather  involves 
the  choosing  of  those  feeds  that  are  useful  and  economical,  and  at 
the  same  time  feeding  and  selecting  such  products  with  proper 
regard  to  the  indiyidual  animal,  the  kind  and  extent  of  the 
work  required,  the  condition,  temperament  and  adaptability  of 
the  man  who  works  and  the  horses  that  are  worked.  A,  scien- 
tifically balanced  ration  is  not  essential,  for  chemists  are  very  apt 
in  certain  rations  to  find  food  nutrients  that  the  horse  cannot  find. 
The  spirit  or  '*  feel  "  of  the  horse,  the  expression  of  his  coimte- 
nance,  the  condition  of  his  coat  and  legs,  together  with  the  con- 
sistency, color  and  odor  of  the  feces,  are  perhaps  of  more  im- 
portance to  the  feeder  in  determining  kinds  and  amounts  of  feeds 
than  the  lead  pencil  in  the  hands  of  the  scientist  who  feeds  his 

horse  from  his  ofiice  desk. 

[187] 


188  The  Horse  Tndusrry  in  New  York  State 

feeding  too  much  roughage  a  mistake 
The  most  common  error,  particularly  in  the  feeding  of  farm 
work  horses,  is  the  feeding  of  too  much  timothy  hay.  In  the  first 
place,  a  horse  does  not  exercise  very  mnch  judgment  if  he  is 
required  to  determine  for  himself  the  amount  of  roughage  that  he 
is  to  consume.  If,  by  any  chance,  he  is  turned  loose  in  a  feed 
room  where  there  is  a  bale  of  hay  and  a  barrel  of  oats  he  would 
feel  obliged  to  eat  all  of  both  if  it  were  possible.  The  same  rule 
applies  in  case  the  thoughtless  farmer  feels  generous  enough  to 
keep  timothy  and  mixed  hay  before  his  horses  at  all  times,  carry- 
ing the  impression  that,  since  grain  is  more  expensive  than  hay, 
if  a  horse  will  eat  large  amounts  of  such  roughage  he  will  require 
a  smaller  amount  of  concentrates.  The  reverse  is  often  true. 
Overloading  the  digestive  system  of  a  horse  with  a  relatively 
indigestible  product  results  in  malnutrition,  and  invites  troubles 
to  the  respiratory  system  which  finally  wind  up  with  labored 
breathing  and  heaves. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  a  horse's  stomach  is  relatively 
small,  holding  only  from  twelve  to  fifteen  quarts ;  and,  if  a  horse 
is  doing  hard  work,  he  needs  concentrated  feeds  —  the  nutrients 
must  be  digestible  and  easily  assimilated.  He  should  not  be  re- 
quired to  subsist  largely  on  roughage  products  that  require  so 
much  time  and  energy  in  the  simple  process  of  mastication  and 
digestion.  First,  limit  all  the  roughage  to  one  pound  per  day  of 
average  mixed  hay  to  each  one  hundred  pounds  live  weight  of 
the  animal,  and  feed  the  bulk  of  this  roughage  at  night  rather 
than  in  the  morning  or  during  the  middle  of  the  day.  The  grain 
should  constitute  the  bulk  of  the  morning  and  noon  meal. 

In  the  selection  of  roughage  two  factors  must  be  considered. 
First,  if  alfalfa  or  clover  hay  is  available,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  it  is  not  necessary  to  feed  as  much  grain.  Eight  pounds  of 
alfalfa  hay  will  supply  quite  as  many  energy  units  as  fourteen 
pounds  of  timothy  hay.  Second,  idle  horses  should  be  given 
relatively  the  same  proportion  of  grain  and  roughage  as  working 
horses,  and  the  amount  rather  than  the  proportion  should  be  re- 
duced on  account  of  the  idleness  or  irregularity  of  work.  It  is  not 
difficult  to  suggest  a  grain  ration  suitable  for  feeding  horses  that 
work  every  day. 


Feed  and  Care  of  the  Horse  189 

the  graix  ration 

Five  products,  for  the  most  part,  should  provide  the  basis  of 
the  grain  ration  —  oats,  com,  wheat  bran,  oil  meal  and  molasses. 
Under  most  conditions,  especially  those  that  prevail  on  the  average 
farm,  a  mixture  of  these  products  is  more  desirable  than  any  one 
fed  by  itself.  It  is  generally  believed  that  so  far  as  the  concen- 
trates are  concerned,  oats  are  best  adapted  to  the  feeding  of 
hoTses  —  not  only  on  account  of  their  chemical  analysis,  but  be- 
cause of  their  physical  composition  as  well.  The  relative  pro- 
portions of  carbohydrate  and  protein  constitute  a  well-balanced 
lation,  and  it  seems  that  horses  fed  largely  on  oats,  with  an  appro- 
priate roughage,  possess  more  mettle  than  individuals  fed  corn  in 
liberal  amounts.  The  one  objection  to  oats  is  their  cost,  and  very 
often  unscrupulous  feed  dealers  mix  barley  with  the  oats  when  the 
price  of  barley  will  enable  them  to  make  this  substitution  with 
profit.  Such  a  mixture  is  less  palatable  and  less  nutritious  than 
oats  fed  alone. 

Corn  is  king  in  the  com  belt,  not  only  for  pigs  but  for  horses 
as  well,  and  if  alfalfa  hay  is  used  as  a  supplement  very  few  ob- 
jections can  be  made  to  this  combination.  However,  the  common 
practice  of  feeding  com  and  timothy  hay  in  relatively  large 
amounts  is  objectionable  for  the  simple  reason  tha4;  there  is  a 
lack  of  protein  —  blood-  and  muscle^making  tissue  —  in  such 
a  combination,  and  it  predisposes  the  animal's  digestive  system 
to  improper  functionating,  and  eventually  the  horse's  wearing  or 
working  qualities  are  pennanently  impaired. 

Wheat  bran  or  alfalfa  hay  should  always  parallel  a  ration  of 
corn ;  or,  if  neither  of  these  products  are  available,  oil  meal  might 
appropriately  be  substituted.  Wheat  bran  is  always  indispensable 
in  a  ration  for  growing  animals.  Its  laxativeness  coupled  with  its 
ash  content  suggests  itself  on  every  occasion  when  irregularities 
prevail ;  and,  if  it  is  useful  for  sick  animals,  it  is  certainly  a  safe 
feed  for  well  ones. 

Oil  meal  is  perhaps  the  best  conditioner  available  for  feeding 
horses.  The  mere  fact  that  perhaps  90  per  cent  of  the  con- 
diment stock  feeds  that  are  on  the  market  are  oil  meal  is  evidence 
enough  of  the  value  of  this  by-product  as  a  conditioner  or  tonic. 

Molasses  has  come  into  use  within  the  last  few  years,  chiefly 


lUO  The  House  Industky  in   New   Yoki-:   State 

because  it  is  less  expensive  than  corn,  and  supplies  quite  as  much 
energy.  Pound  for  pound,  its  feeding  value  compares  favorably 
with  corn,  but  this  does  not  mean  that  it  can  be  substituted  pound 
for  pound  in  the  ration.  It  is  clear,  however,  that  in  case  molasses 
is  selected  as  a  feed  for  horses  it  should  be  purchased  in  bulk, 
and  not  through  the  agency  of  mixed  feeds.  Certainly,  molasses 
has  been  used  to  market  a  great  nuuiy  products  as  horse  feeds 
that  would  not  be  utilized  if  the  buyer  of  the  feed  had  a  definite 
knowledge  of  the  particular  feed  that  he  was  buying.  Again, 
molasses  should  not  be  used  extensively  for  idle  horses,  and  in 
any  event  not  more  than  three  pounds  should  be  fed  per  day.  It 
is  an  excellent  conditioner,  and  has  the  effect  of  smoothing  the 
coat,  when  proper  grooming  accompanies  its  use  as  a  feed. 

As  suggested  above,  a  combination  of  the  foodstuffs  named 
undoubtedly  makes  the  best  feed.  \'ariety  should  be  practiced  by 
changing  the  kinds  and  amounts  of  the  ingredients ;  likewise  it  is 
permissible  to  omit  certain  feeds  at  a  season  of  the  year  when  they 
are  expensive  or  are  not  available.  A  very  useful  combination 
for  work  horses  doing  daily  work  would  be  as  follows  :  200  pounds 
oats,  100  pounds  wheat  bran,  100  pounds  cracked  corn,  50  pounds 
molasses,  35  pounds  oil  meal. 

It  would  not  be  practical  to  mix  the  molasses  with  these  feeds 
during  the  warm  weather,  nor  would  it  be  wise  to  use  this  mixture 
during  the  coldest  winter  weather.  Molasses  might  be  omitted 
from  the  ration  during  this  time,  or  it  could  be  mixed  w^th 
water  —  five  parts  of  water  to  one  part  of  molasses  —  and  either 
poured  over  the  grain  after  it  is  in  the  feed  box  or  sprinkled 
over  the  cut  hay  in  a  suitable  manger. 

SALT  AND  WATER 

Salt  should  be  kept  before  the  animals  at  all  times.  Horses 
should  be  watered  previous  to  feeding.  There  is  a  difference  in 
opinion  so  far  as  this  practice  is  concerned,  but  it  stands  to  reason 
that  since  water  does  not  require  digestion,  it  would  be  much  better 
to  let  them  have  their  drinking  water  previous  to  feeding,  and  thus 
enable  the  digestive  system  to  work  more  leisurely  in  preparing  the 
grain  and  roughage  for  assimilation. 


Feed  and  Cake  of  the  Horse  191 

CARE  OF  the  teeth  AXD  PARASITES-* 

At  the  outset  two  observations  should  be  made.  First,  the  care- 
taker  should  make  sure  that  the  horse's  teeth  are  in  good  condition 
and  free  from  annoying  projections  that  would  lacerate  the  mouth, 
and  be  responsible  for  incomplete  mastication.  A  float  may  be 
used  if  the  trouble  is  simple ;  but,  if  more  complicated,  a  veteri- 
narian should  be  called.  He  should  make,  sure  that  the  first  step 
of  digestion  is  properly  taken.  In  the  second  place,  internal 
parasites  or  w^orms  sap  the  vitality  of  the  animars  system,  and 
destroy  in  many  instances  the  usefulness  of  the  animal's  digestive 
system.  Continued  annoyances  and  discomfort  in  an  animal's 
digestive  system  are  responsible  for  ill-temper  and  nervousness, 
and  it  is  absolutely  essential  that  the  animal  be  relieved  from 
unnecessary  disturbances.  An  ounce  of  turpentine  to  a  quart  of 
raw  linseed  oil  for  a  1000-pound  horse,  given  on  an  empty  stomach, 
will  oftentimes  act  as  a  vermifuge;  or,  placing  in  the  feed 
twice  daily  for  five  days,  a  tablespoonful  of  a  mixture  made 
up  of  equal  parts  of  powdered  gentian  and  powdered  ferrous  sul- 
phate will  act  in  the  same  capacity.  In  either  case,  a  purge  should 
follow  the  use  of  such  ingredients  in  order  to  make  sure  that  the 
parasites  are  eliminated  from  the  system  after  they  have  been 
loosened  from  the  walls  of  the  stomach  or  intestines. 

The  question  of  gTooming  is  of  vital  importance  in  the  manage- 
ment of  work  horses.  Xot  only  should  the  stalls  be  roomy  and 
kept  in  a  sanitary  condition,  but  every  effort  should  be  exerted 
to  provide  comfort  for  the  animals.  Regularity  of  the  feeding 
period  as  well  as  of  the  rest  period  is  essential,  and  it  must  be 
remembered  that  idle  horses  require  less  food  units  than  those 
working  regularly.  The  most  difiicult  horse  in  the  world  to  feed 
and  keep  in  condition  is  the  animal  that  is  overworked  one  day 
and  underworked  the  next.  Reduce  the  feed  in  half  on  idle  days, 
and  increase  the  grain  ration  when  the  animal  is  doing  severe 
labor.  In  this  way  the  caretaker  will  avoid  instances  of  indi- 
gestion or  the  loading  up  of  the  system  with  surplus  nitrogenous 
material,  which  is  responsible  for  Monday-morning  disease  or 
azoturia.     "  The  eye  of  the  master  fatteneth  his  animal  "  is  an 


*  See  article  on  care  of  the  teeth,  page  183. 


192  The  Horse  Industry  in  JMew  York  State 


/ 


oft-repeated  proverb,  and  is  quoted  here  only  to  suggest  that  even 
though  a  ration  might  be  scientitically  bahmced  and  practically 
compounded,  it  is  fundamental  that  the  feeder  of  horses  watch 
every  sign  that  suggests  comfort  or  distress  if  he  wishes  to  have 
his  charges  always  in  bloom  and  eager  for  work. 


HORSES  AT  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  FAIR 


Dr.  H.  S.  Wende,  Tonawaxda,  N.  Y. 

Superintendent,  Horse  Exhibit,  New  York  State  Fair,  1913-14 

HOKSE     SHOW     SHOULD    ENCOUKAGE     BREEDING     OF     STATE     HORSES 
SUITABLE   FOR   THE    FARM 

It  lias  always  been  mv  belief  that  the 
horse  show  of  ■  the  State  Fair  should  be 
condncted  with  the  object  of  encouraging 
the  production  of  more  and  better  stock 
within  the  borders  of  the  state.  After 
being  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
horse  department  of  the  fair  in  1913,  I 
consulted  Commissioner  Huson  with 
reference  to  the  policy  to  be  used  in  re- 
gard to  Xew  York  exhibitors.  He  held 
the  same  opinion  —  that  everything  possible  should  be  done  to 
make  the  horse  show  attractive  for  resident  exhibitors. 

I  do  not  believe  that  the  horse  breeding  interests  of  this  state 
are  best  served  by  catering  to  the  professional  exhibitors  of  horses, 
most  of  whom  are  importers  rather  than  breeders  and  whose  stables 
are  shipped  from  one  big  fair  to  another,  equipped  and  con- 
ditioned in  a  way  to  make  any  competition  on  the  part  of  the 
farmer  breeder  fruitless.  This  refers  mainly  to  the  heavy  draft 
classes.  I  think  the  correctness  of  this  last  statement  was  demon- 
strated by  the  exhibits  in  the  heavy  draft  classes  at  Syracuse  in 
both  1913  and  1914. 


NEW    YORK    HORSE    MARKET     SUPERIOR    TO    THAT    OF    ANY    OTHER 

STATE 

No  other  state  in  the  Union  imports  so  many  horses  from  its 

neighbors  yearly  as  does  jSTew  York.    For  the  last  few  years  about 

80,000  horses  bred  in  other  states  have  yearly  found  purchasers 

in  jSTew  York  State;  the  total  value  of  this  importation  amounts 

13  tl931 


194 


The  Horse  Ikdustky  in  New  York  State 


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HoKSES   AT    THE    XeW    YoKK    StATE    FaIK 


195 


to  between  sixteen  and  eighteen  million  dollars  annually.  The 
books  of  the  two  big  concerns  of  East  Buffalo  —  the  Crandall 
Horse  Co.  and  the  Bailey  Horse  Co. —  show  that  during  the  last 
tive  years  their  sales  of  horses  have  amounted  to  $25,000,000,  an 
average  of  $5,000,000  a  year.  There  is  no  valid  reason  why  at 
least  75  per  cent  of  this  number  of  horses,  which  breeders  out- 
side the  state  furnish,  should  not  be  produced  on  the  farms  of 
Xew  York.  Xo  better  grazing  lands  or  those  adapted  to  the 
raising  of  forage  and  grain  are  to  be  found  than  those  in  New 


Fig.   66.  Prize-Winning  Percheron   Stallion,   Shown  at  New  York 
State  Fair,  1914. 


York  State,  and  in  no  other  state  do  the  farmers  have  a  market 
for  more  than  75,000  horses  annually  right  at  their  doors. 
Despite  these  facts,  however,  horse  breeding  in  this  state  has  been 
at  a  low  ebb  for  several  years.  The  farmers  make  no  effort  to 
supply  the  commercial  interests  of  this  state,  and  it  is  not  far  out 
of  the  way  to  say  that  75  per  cent  of  them  do  not  raise  the 
horses  which  they  need  on  their  own  farm.     At  the  time  I  was 


196  Tjie  Hokse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

appointed  superintendent  of  the  horse  department  of  the  State 
Fair,  it  was  mj  opinion  that  the  horse  exhibits  should  be  of  such 
a  character  as  to  awaken  the  interest  of  New  York  State  farmers 
to  the  importance  of  horses  as  a  profitable  adjunct  to  their  farm- 
ing, and  after  two  years  experience  as  head  of  the  horse  depart- 
ment I  am  more  than  ever  convinced  that  my  conclusions  were 
correct. 

SPECIAL    CLASS    FOR    NEW    YORK    STATE    HORSES 

In  both  1913  and  1914  special  classes  were  made  for  horses 
owned  by  residents  of  the  state  of  New  York ;  the  horses  entered 
in  these  classes  were  also  eligible  for  entry  in  the  open  classes. 


Fig.  67.  Gbade    Champion    Belgian    Stallion,    Richelieu. 
Shown  at  State  Fair 

How  appreciative  the  breeders  of  this  state  were  of  the  encourage- 
ment extended  them  may  be  gleaned  from  the  statement  that 
never  in  the  history  of  the  State  Fair  had  there  been  so  many 
entries  in  the  Percheron  and  Belgian  classes  as  in  1914,  and  that 
every  animal  shown  in  these  classes  was  owned  by  a  resident  of 
New  York.     Forty-five  horses  representing  nine  New  York  State 


Horses  at  the  Xew  York  State  Fair  197 

owners  were  shown  in  the  Percheron  chisses  at  last  year's  fair; 
it  may  well  be  doubted  if  an  exhibit  of  higher  character  was  made 
at  any  state  fair  held  last  fall,  even  where  the  big  professional 
stables  which  toured  the  country  were  shown.  The  Belgians,  too, 
were  a  most  notable  exhibit,  thirty  representatives  of  this  breed 
from  the  stables  of  six  Xew  York  State  owners  being  shown. 

The  exliibits  of  these  two  breeds  by  the  Adirondack  Farms 
and  Heart's  Delight  Farm  were  of  exceptionally  high  character, 
and  they  furnished  an  object  lesson  to  the  hundreds  of  farmers 
who  w^atched  the  judges  place  the  awards  —  a  lesson  that  will 
make  itself  felt  in  a  substantial  way  in  the  near  future.  This 
proof  that  Xew  York  can  produce  horses  of  equal  quality  to  those 
produced  in  any  other  state  resulted  in  the  purchase  of  stallions 
of  those  breeds  by  a  large  number  of  farmers,  during  or  directly 
after  the  fair.  These  stallions,  going  to  different  parts  of  the 
state,  will  stimulate  draft  horse  breeding  in  a  degree  not  hereto- 
fore noticeable. 

1  cannot  forego,  in  this  connection,  mention  of  the  instructive 
exhibits  showing  the  utility  qualities  of  heavy  draft  horses  in 
business,  made  by  the  George  Urban  ]\rilling  Co.  of  Buf- 
falo. This  firm  showed,  in  the  single,  double,  triple,  four-in- 
hand  and  six-in-hand  hitches,  heavy  draft  horses  such  as  the 
market  in  the  cities  of  this  state  are  calling  for.  In  answer  to 
queries  made  by  farmers  as  to  the  prices  paid  for  these  horses,  it 
was  stated  that  they  cost  from  $275  to  $375  each  in  the  open 
market,  solely  for  business  purposes.  The  lessons  demonstrated 
by  this  company's  exliibit  in  the  breeding  classes  were  driven  home 
in  no  uncertain  manner. 

LIGHT  HARA'ESS  HORSES 

The  breeding  classes  for  light  harness  horses  at  the  State  Fair 
did  not  attract  so  many  entries  as  the  heavy  draft  classes,  for 
the  reason  that  the  advent  of  the  automobile  has,  to  a  very  great 
degree,  destroyed  the  market  for  road  horses.  While  the  Stand- 
ardbred  trotter  will  ever  be  bred  for  turf  purposes,  it  will  be 
principally  by  breeders  who  possess  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
principles  of  breeding  and  their  relation  to  the  production  of 
speed.     More  and  more  this  branch  of  horse  breeding  will  be 


198 


The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  York  State 


HOKSES   AT    THE   XeW    YoRK    StATE   FaIK 


199 


confined  to  men  who  will  make  a  specialty  of  speed  horses  —  men 
who  are  able  to  equip  their  breeding  farms  with  everything  neces- 
sary for  the  production  and  development  of  that  racing  qualifica- 
tion. 

While  few  in  numbers,  the  trotting-bred  horses  shown  were 
bred  in  most  advanced  lines.  A.  R.  Gillis  of  Syracuse,  S.  C. 
Pendergast  of  Phoenix,  Lyndon  Farm  of  Syracuse,  John  C. 
AJdrich  of  Bath  and  John  McMahon  of  Syracuse  were  the  prin- 
cipal exhibitors,  and  the  exhibits  represented  the  best  trotting 
families  of  this  period  of  advanced  breeding. 


Fig.  69.  Perfection  —  Winner  of  Silver  Ctjp  at  New  York  State 
Fair.  1914.  Best  Foal  in  all  Breeds  —  Belgian  Filly  Foal 
Raised  at  Heart's  Delicht  Farm,  and  Sired  ry  Richelieu 


saddle  iior.ses 
There  is  another  branch  of  horse  breeding,  however,  to  which 
recognition  has  not  been  extended  in  the  breeding  classes  of  the 
State  Fair  —  one  that  promises  to  become  a  profitable  branch  of 
horse  breeding.  That  is  the  production  of  saddle  horses. 
Xever  during  the  last  quarter  of  a  century  have  so  many  busi- 
ness men  taken  to  riding  as  during  the  last  three  or  four  years. 


2U0 


The  Horse  Iwdustey  in  New  Yokk  State 


< 

o 


HOKSES    AT    THE    ^^KW    YoKK    StATE    FaiR 


201 


Since  the  automobile  came  into  general  use,  walking  is  rapidly 
becoming  a  lost  art  in  the  cities.  The  saddle  horse  has  been 
found  to  be  the  ideal  instrument  to  give  the  torpid  liver  a  shak- 
ing up,  and  to  force  the  lungs  to  inhale  the  necessary  amount  of 
fresh  air  to  supply  the  system  with  its  needs. 

Saddle  horses  are  in  active  demand  and  at  good  prices,  and  it 
seems  as  though  it  would  be  a  wise  act  on  the  part  of  the  State 
Fair  management  to  give  the  saddle  horse  a  place  when  arrang- 
ing the  classes  for  the  next  fair. 

PEKCHEROX 

In  the  Percheron  classes  the  outstanding  individuals  were 
found  in :  Merau,  a  two-year-old  stallion  of  surpassing  excellence 
showm  by  Adirondack  farms,  winner  in  his  age  class  and  also  in 
the  Champion  class ;  Mouche,  a  two-year-old  mare  from  the 
same  farm  that  won  first  in  her  age  class  and  championship ; 
Incidentei',  winner  of  the  first  in  the  class  for  three-year-old 
stallions  from  Heart's  Delight  Farm,  and  Coquette  of  Heart's 
Deliffht,  who  won  first  in  the  class  for  three-vear-old  mares  for 
the  same  farm. 


Fig.  71.    Two-Year-Old  Percherox  Stalliox,  Ixvocatiox,  Exhibited 
AT  New  York  State  Fair 


202  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

The  stallion  Heristal,  owned  hy  William  Luckluini  of  Church- 
villc,  was  another  especially  i>-ood  representative  of  the  breed, 
winnina,  first  in  the  class  for  stallion  fonr  years  old  or  over  and 
for  stallion  and  three  of  his  get. 

Other  commendable  exhibits  in  the  Percheron  classes  were  made 
by  C.  M.  Cronse  of  Syracnse,  S.  C.  Pendergast  of  Phoenix,  James 
McNamara  of  Baldwinsville,  Carl  Amos  of  Syracuse  and  J.  A. 
Jackson  of  Hollev. 


Fig.  72.  Yearling   Belgian   Stallion   Sired   by   Richelieu 
BELGIAN 

In  the  Belgian  classes  the  championship  honors  went  to 
Adirondack  Farms  Major  d'Appel,  a  fonr-year-old  stallion  of 
exceptional  type,  and  to  Bienvenne,  a  mare  of  rare  make-np. 
Argentine,  a  mare  shown  by  Heart's  Delight  Farm,  was  almost 
the  equal  of  Bienvenne. 

The  last  mentioned  farm  also  showed  a  grand  colt  in  Digiiitaire, 
winner  in  the  class  for  stallions  one  year  and  under  two,  and  in 
Urane,  a  mare  of  the  same  age.  This  farm  also  showed  the 
winner  in  the  class  for  stallions  three  and  under  four  in  the 


Horses  at  the  New  Yok'k  State  Fair  203 

splendidly  built  young  horse,  Troubadour  of  Heart's  Delight.  In 
the  class  for  stallions  two  and  under  three,  Adirondack  Farms 
won  the  honors  with  Orange  de  Bruchoin,  a  very  high-class  colt. 
Other  exhibitors  who  showed  Belgians  of  high  type  and  merit 
were  John  Clary  of  Seneca  Falls,  whose  stallion  Bicaldo,  was 
second  to  Major  d'Appel;  E.  S.  Akin  of  Syracuse,  Elbert  Roos 
of  Walden,  and  A.  C.  HirzeLof  Syracuse.  The  Clydesdale  and 
Suffolk  breeds  also  made  a  commendable  exhibit,  all  being  owned 
by  residents  of  ]^ew  York  State. 

CLYDESDxVLE 

In  the  Clydesdales  the  contests  were  mainly  between  the  ex- 
hibits from  Adirondack  Farms  and  those  of  Hugh  J.  Chisholm 
of  Port  Chester.  In  the  class  for  stallions  three  and  under  four, 
Kelvindale  from  Adirondack  Farms  was  judged  superior  to  Mr. 
Chisholm's  Apollo  by  a  narrow  margin ;  this  horse  also  won  the 
championship.  In  the  class  for  mares  of  the  same  age  Mr.  Chis- 
holm's won  first  and  second  with  a  typical  pair,  Lily  and  Rosie 
Bloom.  Wattie  Yet,  owned  by  L.  F.  Empy  of  Williamstown,  won 
first  in  stallion  four  years  and  over,  having  no  opposition. 

In  the  Suffolk  classes  Adirondack  Farms  had  no  opponents, 
but  it  would  have  required  high-class  representatives  of  the  breed 
to  have  robbed  some  of  those  shown  of  the  honors  they  carried  oft". 

draft  colts 
Perhaps  one  of  the  most  interesting  competitions  in  the  draft 
class  during  the  fair  of  1914  was  a  special  class  for  registered 
draft  colts  of  either  sex  and  breed,  foaled  in  1914,  for  a  silver 
cup  offered  by  Mr.  E.  S.  Akin  of  Syracuse.  Nearly  a  score 
of  weanlings  lined  up  for  the  judges  to  pass  on.  There  was  not  a 
colt  in  the  lot  that  would  have  been  out  of  place  in  any  show  ring- 
in  the  country,  and  there  was  not  a  single  one  but  that  was  an 
illustration  to  the  attending  farmers  of  the  possibilities  before 
them  in  the  way  of  breeding  high-class  draft  horses  to  supply  the 
ready  and  profitable  market,  which  their  home  state  affords  for 
this  class  of  horses. 


204  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

good  horses  tend  to  keep  the  boy  on  the  farm 
Eight  here  it  may  he  stated  that  horse  hreediiiii;  has  an  intimate 
connection  with  another  subject  much  discussed  at  present  in  the 
agricultural  press  —  that  of  keeping  the  hovs  contented  on  the 
farm.  No  other  way  of  accomplishing  this  has  been  so  pro- 
ductive of  the  desired  results  as  by  getting  the  boys  interested 
in  breeding  good  stock ;  and  the  fact  that  nine  out  of  ten  boys  on 
the  farm  take  pride  in  driving  a  good  horse  makes  horse  breed- 
ing the  ideal  branch  of  live  stock  production  to  attract  their 
attention  and  to  add  to  their  contentment,  at  a  time  in  their  lives 
when,  unless  life  on  the  farai  is  relieved  of  some  of  its  monotony, 
discontent  creeps  in  and  they  drift  away  from  the  farm  in  the 
mistaken  belief  that  other  lines  of  work  offer  better  opportunities. 

NECESSARY    i:srPROVE:MP.NTS 

The  greatest  immediate  need  to  insure  the  continued  success 
of  the  horse  department  of  the  State  Fair  is  the  erection  of 
modern  barns  to  stable  the  horses  exhibited.  Those  which  have 
been  used  during  the  past  several  years  are  unsanitary,  and  so 
poorly  arranged  that  it  is  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  the 
patrons  of  the  fair  can  see  the  horses  when  they  are  in  the  stable, 
with  any  degree  of  satisfaction.  Modern,  sanitary  and  well- 
lighted  barns  would  not  only  add  much  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
persons  who  attend  the  fair  to  sea  the  horses  with  the  idea  of 
learning  something,  but  it  would  also  add  immensely  to  the  value 
of  the  exliibits,  and  thus  attract  a  constantly  growing  list  of  ex- 
hibitors. Such  barns^  too,  would  of  themselves  be  a  valuable  edu- 
cational feature  to  farmers  in  a  direction  which  is  demanding  the 
attention  of  everyone  who  is  giving  any  study  -to  farming  uplift. 

Another  most  desirable  addition  to  the  exhibition  equipment 
would  be  a  covered  show  ring,  if  it  were  no  more  than  a  pavilion. 
Under  present  conditions  the  exhibitors  and  judges  have  to  work 
in  the  direct  rays  of  the  hot  sun  when  the  weather  is  good;  and, 
if  stormy,  the  exhibition  must  be  abandoned  altogether. 

The  vast  opportunities  which  present  themselves  to  the  farmers 
of  this  state  in  the  hors'e  breeding  field  are  too  important  to 
J3ennit  this  branch  of  breeding  to  be  neglected  by  our  State  Fair, 


HOKSES   AT   THE   NeW    YoRK    StaTE   FaiR 


205 


the  principal  object  of  which  is  to  encourage  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  animal  husbandry  in  ever)'  direction.  In  the  western 
states  every  effort  is  being  made  to  encourage  horse  breeding. 
Draft  horse  futurities  are  features  of  several  of  the  western  state 
fairs  and  the  entrants  in  those  event's  are  largely  owned  by 
farmers  who  make  horse  breeding  only  an  adjunct  to  their  farming 
operations. 

EUROPEAN    war   WILL    CREATE   A     SCARCITY 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  war  in  Europe  has  entirely  killed 
horse  breedino-  in  Belgium,  has  reduced  that   industry  to  small 


H.  S.  Allen,  Buffalo,  X.  Y.  A.  W.  Lawrence,  Le  Roy,  N.  Y. 

Fig.  73.     Judges  at  New  York  State  Fair,  1914 


proportions  in  France,  and  greatly  restricted  the  breeding  studs 
of  England  and  Scotland,  I  believe  that  the  introduction  of 
futurity  events  for  draft  colts,  bred  by  residents  of  this  state 
would,  in  a  marked  degree,  increase  the  interest  in  horse  breeding 
throughout  the  state,  which  is,  after  all,  the  principal  object  of 
this  department  of  the  State  Fair.  It  is  claimed  by  even  the 
casual  observer  of  public  affairs  that  not  only  will  the  countries  of 
Europe,  which  have  heretofore  supplied  this  country  with  stallions 


206  The  Horse  Industuy  in  New  York  State 

and  mares  of  the  draft  breeds  for  breeding  purposes,  be  unable 
to  do  that  after  the  war  conies  to  an  end,  but  that  they  will  have 
to  come  to  this  country  to  get  breeding  stocks  to  reestablish  the 
breeding  industry  in  those  countries.  It  is  even  probable  that 
after  the  close  of  the  war  there  will  also  be  a  great  demand  made 
upon  this  country  for  horses  for  commercial  purposes,  so  depleted 
will  the  horse  stock  of  the  warring  countries  have  become. 

It  is  plain,  therefore,  that  the  horse  breeding  industry  in  this 
country  wi'll  enjoy  an  extended  period  of  unprecedented  pros- 
perity, and  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  New  York  State  Fair  to  do 
much  to  awaken  the  farmers  of  this  state  to  the  opportunities 
draft  horse  breeding  holds  for  them,  by  adding  to  the  prize  list 
for  horses  features  which  will  add  to  the  size  and  attractiveness 
of  the  exhibits  in  that  department  by  residents  of  the  state. 

IMPORTANCE   OF   GOOD   JUDGES 

I  should  be  lacking  in  appreciation,  in  speaking  of  the  horse 
exhibits  during  the  two  State  Fairs  while  superintendent  of  the 
horse  department,  if  I  fail  to  mention  the  good  work  of  the  judges 
who  made  the  awards.  Ijelieving  that  there  was  no  necessity  to 
go  outside  the  state  to  secure  competent  judges,  I  engaged  the 
services  of  A.  W.  Lawrence  of  LeRoy  and  Henry  L.  Allen, 
Editor  of  The  Horse  World,  Buffalo ;  and  how  conscientiously 
these  gentlemen  did  the  work  assigned  to  them  during  the  fairs 
of  1913  and  1914  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  there  was 
not  a  single  protest  at  either  fair,  and  so  far  as  the  officials  could 
learn,  there  was  not  a  single  expression  of  dissatisfaction  heard 
from  any  exhibitor.  This  strengthens  my  belief  that  a  fair  may 
secure  a  large  number  of  high-class  exhibits  and  still  have  the 
exhibit  ruined  by  the  work  of  incompetent  men  as  judges. 


THE  NEED  OF  A  STALLION  LAW 


De.   W.   G.    HOLLINGWOKTII,    UtICA,   N.    Y. 

The  inquiries  of  owners  of  brood  mares 
as  to  the  whereabouts  of  a  pure-blood  stal- 
lion are  constantly  increasing.  They  find 
that  the  prices  paid  for  suitable  horses  make 
colt  raising  of  the  right  kind  a  profitable 
business.  The  only  way  to  stimulate  such 
breeding  is  to  have  an  efficient  stallion  law, 
through  which  the  scrub  stallions  will  grad- 
ually be  eliminated  and  be  replaced  by 
pure-bloods.  Such  a  law  would  be  educa- 
tional ;  and,  if  passed  by  the  legislature,  the  breeding  from  pure- 
blood  sires  would  be  the  topic  of  discussion  in  every  farming 
community.  This,  if  nothing  else,  would  be  considered  a  most 
valuable  eft'ect  of  the  new  legislation ;  it  would  be  educational  to 
all  those  interested  in  breeding,  selling,  buying  and  using  the 
horse. 

■So  long  as  we  are  satisfied  to  run  along  in  the  same  old  rut  that 
we  have  for  years,  little  can  be  accomplished ;  but  when  we  come 
to  realize  the  importance  and  need  of  study,  the  employment 
of  modern  means  and  the  eradication  of  our  faulty  conditions, 
changes  for  the  better  will  be  forthcoming.  The  farmers'  methods 
and  ideas  in  regard  to  horse  breeding  must  be  improved,  and  a 
stallion  law  would  aid  materially  in  this  direction. 


HOW   AN    EFFICIENT    STALLION    LAW    CAN    BE    BROUGHT   ABOUT 

All  who  are  interested  directly  or  indirectly  should  urge  the 
breeding  of  suitable  mares  to  pure-blood  stallions.  The  stallion 
laws  of  the  difi^erent  states  in  which  such  a  law  has  been  passed 
should  be  studied  and  their  weak  points  strengthened.  If  such  a 
law  is  passed  it  should  be  a  good  and  workable  one. 

An  efiicient  law  and  a  campaign  of  education  would  show  the 
farmer  in  dollars  and  cents  the  profit  there  is  in  raising  colts 

[207] 


208  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

from  such  sires  as  wfll  transmit  type  to  their  offspring.  Our 
agricultural  societies  can  be  a  great  help  by  devoting  more 
thoiight  to  the  horse  exhibits  at  their  fairs.  A  sufficient  amount 
should  be  given  in  premiums  to  encourage  a  friendly  rivalry 
among  the  farmers  in  colt  raising.  They  should  refuse  an  appli- 
cation of  entrance  to  any  but  pure-blood  stallions  with  certificates 
of  registration. 

^Yith  the  development  of  agriculture,  the  demand  for  the  farm 
type  of  horse  is  increasing,  and  this  need  is  met  by  a  scarcity. 
Why  is  there  a  scarcity  ?  This  is  a  big  question  to  answer.  First 
of  all  is  the  lack  of  a  proper  law  to  eliminate  the  scrub  or  grade 
stallion,  the  offspring  of  which  are  of  poor  type  and  unmarketable. 
It  costs  no  more  to  raise  a  colt  from  a  pure-blood  sire  than  from 
a  scrub  or  grade.  We  must  add  the  service  fee,  of  course,  but 
the  colt  from  the  pure-blood  is  much  more  valuable  and  will  bring 
a  higher  price.     This  should  be  taken  into  consideration. 

The  horse  breeding  industry  is  and  has  been  carried  on  very 
unintelligently,  and  the  results  have  been  very  unsatisfactory. 
We  have  depended  too  much  upon  the  other  fellow.  Now  this  indi- 
vidual has  failed  to  meet  the  expectation,  and  the  result  is  an 
extremely  high  price  for  the  popular  work  horse,  and  no  market, 
so  far  as  revenue  is  concerned,  for  the  colt  from  the  stallion  with 
no  breeding.  To  this  very  individual  is  due  the  undesirable  state 
of  aff"airs  in  the  breeding  operations  of  this  state ;  and  this  con- 
dition has  been  augmented  by  the  presence  of  hereditary  un- 
soundness, lack  of  discrimination  and  judgment  in  mating,  and 
inattention  to  adequate  feeding  and  suitable  sanitary  stabling. 

great  opportunity  for  new  YORK  STATE  HORSES 

We  should  realize  the  advantage  of  growing  our  own  horses. 
It  is  estimated  that  New  York  State  requires  10,000  horses 
annually  to  meet  its  demands ;  and,  if  we  put  the  average  price  at 
$200,  which  is  low,  think  what  that  amounts  to  —  $20,000,000 ! 
And  most  of  that  goes  out  of  the  state.  With  our  rich  pastures  and 
excellent  facilities,  we  should  be  an  exporting  instead  of  an  im- 
porting state  —  not  only  of  horses  but  other  agricultural  products. 
Of  our  214,650  farms,  93.6  per  cent,  or  200,989,  reported 
domestic  animals;  86.7  per  cent,  or  186,164,  reported  horses,  and 


The  I^eed  of  a  Stallion  Law  209 

during  the  last  decade  there  has  been  a  decrease  of  38,288  horses. 
But  the  value  of  our  horses  has  increased.  The  value  of  our 
horses  in  1910,  as  compared  with  that  of  1900,  was  $30,912,000 
more  —  an  increase  of  66.5  per  cent.  This  should  be  encouraging 
to  breeders,  since  it  shows  a  steady  advance  in  the  face  of  the 
automobile  as  an  efficient  competitor. 

The  census  also  shows  how  few  colts  are  being  raised  in  this 
state.  In  1910  only  3,613  spring  colts  were  reported,  which  would 
indicate  that  only  1.5  per  cent  of  New  York  State  farmers  were 
interested  in  colt  raising.  One  reason  for  this  is  that  many  of 
our  good  breeding  types  of  mares  have  been  sold  to  go  back  into 
the  West. 

patterx  after  europeax  horse  breeders 

The  stallion  situation  abroad  before  the  present  conflict  was  a 
monument  to  the  different  countries.  Each  country  took  pride 
in  specializing  in  certain  breeds  in  certain  localities,  and  the 
breeders  were  stimulated  by  government  and  county  grants  of 
money.  If  a  certain  sire  developed  certain  merit,  he  had  to  re- 
main in  the  country  for  a  specified  time.  All  horses  were  in- 
spected by  government  veterinarians*  and  were  classed  accordingly. 
This  has  practically  eliminated  the  undesirable  ones,  and  the 
farmer  finds  by  this  pix)cess  that  it  pays  to  breed  from  suitable 
sires  and  dams. 

With  conditions  as  they  are  at  present,  and  as  they  will  be  for 
some  time  to  come,  this  country  ought  to  put  itself  in  the  position, 
to  Europe  that  Europe  has  beerf  to  the  United  States.  We  will 
have  to  be  the  exporter,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  we  cannot  do 
it.  One  thing  that  will  help  a  great  deal  is  satisfactory  stallion 
laws  in  this  and  other  states. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Laws  of  Xew  Jersey  relative  to 
public  service  of  stallions: 

LAWS  OF  NEW  JERSEY 
CHAPTER  212 
An  Act  to  regulate  the   public   service  of   stallions  in   New  Jersey. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  General  Assembly  of  the  >S7afe  of  A^ew 
Jersey  : 

1.  Every  person,  firm  or  company  standing,  traveling  or  offering  for  use 
any  stallion  or  jack  in  this  state  shall  cause  the  name,  description  and 
pedigree  of  such  stallion  or  jack  to  be  enrolled  by  the  Stallion  Registration 
JBpard  hereinafter  provided  for,  and  shall  secure  a  license  from  said  board  as 

14 


210  The  IIokse  Tndustky  of  'New  Yoiik  State 

provided  in  section  three  of  this  act.  The  enrollment  and  verification  of 
pedigree  and  the  issuing  of  license  certificates  shall  be  done  by  the  Animal 
Husbandman  of  the  State  Experiment  Station. 

2.  In  order  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this  act,  tlie  active  members  of 
the  Live  Stock  Commission,  namely,  the  Animal  Husbandman  of  the  State 
Experiment  Station,  who  shall  be  secretary  and  executive  officer,  a  graduate 
veterinarian  and  a  prominent  breeder  of  live  stock,  shall  constitute  a  Stallion 
Examining  and  Registration  Board,  who.se  compensation  shall  be  while  en- 
gaged in  personally  examining  stallions  and  jacks  five  dollars  per  diem  and 
traveling  expenses  in  addition  to  the  regular  compensation,  as  provided  for 
by  the  law  establishing  the  Live  Stock  Commission;  to  pass  upon  certificate 
of  veterinary  examination;  to  provide,  when  necessary,  for  veterinary  inspec- 
tion; to  issue  stallion  license  certificates;  to  make  all  necessary  rules  and 
regulations,  and  to  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  deemed  necessary 
to  carry  out  and  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

3.  In  order  to  secure  the  license  certificates  herein  provided  for,  the  owner 
of  each  stallion  or  jack  shall  present  his  candidate  for  an  examination,  to- 
gether with  all  necessary  papers  relative  to  his  breeding  and  ownership,  at 
the  county  seat  of  each  county,  or  such  other  place  and  at  such  times  as 
may  be  fixed  by  said  board.  Three  insertions  in  one  or  more  newspapers  in 
each  county  constituting  a  legal  notice  to  the  owners  of  sires.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  this  board  to  personally  examine  each  stallion  or  jack  and  determine  to 
the  best  of  their  knowledge  and  belief  whether  said  stallion  or  jack  is  free 
from  infectious,  contagious  or  transmissible  diseases  or  unsoundness,  and  their 
findings  shall  be  final.  Upon  verification  of  pedigree  and  certificate  of 
breeding  (in  case  of  pure-bred  stallions  or  jacks),  and  providing  said  stallion 
or  jack  has  satisfactorily  passed  said  veterinary  examination,  a  certificate 
shall  be  issued  to  the  owner.  The  presence  of  any  one  or  more  of  the  follow- 
ing named  diseases  shall  disqualify  a  stallion  or  jack  for  public  service,  and 
are  hereby  defined,  as  infectious,  contagious  or  transmissible  diseases"  or 
unsoundness  for  the  purpose  of  this  act: 

Cataract;    amaurosis    (glass  eye);    periodic  ophthalmia    (moon  blindness). 

Laryngeal  hemiplegia   (roaring  or  whistling). 

Pulmonary  emphysema   ( heaves,  broken  wind ) . 

Chorea   (St.  Vitus'  dance,  crampiness,  shivering,  string-halt). 

Bone  spavin;  ringbone;  sidebone;  navicular  disease. 

Bog  spavin;  curb;   with  curby  formation  of  hock. 

Glanders;  farcy;  maladie  du  coit;  utheral  gleet;  mange;  melanosis. 

Osteoperosis ;   canker  of  the  foot;   laminitis. 

The  Stallion  Examining  and  Registration  Board  is  hereby  authorized  to 
refuse  a  certificate  of  enrollment  to  any  stallion  or  jack  affected  with  any 
one  of  the  diseases  specified  and  to  revoke  a  previously  issued  license  at  any 
time  if  upon  examination  a  stallion  or  jack  is  found  to  be  so  affected. 

4.  The  Stallion  Examining  and  Registration  Board  is  authorized  in  case  of 
emergency  to  name  a  committee  in  each  county,  consisting  of  a  graduate 
veterinarian  and  a  practical  horseman  whose  compensation  shall  be  ten  dollars 
per  diem  and  expenses  while  making  such  examinations,  who  shall  examine 
the  various  stallions  or  jacks  in  said  county,  and  issue  to  the  owner  of  said 
animals,  under  oath,  a  certificate  stating  that  said  animals  are  free  from 
infectious,  contagious  and  transmissible  diseases  or  unsoundness,  as  herein 
defined.  The  owner  shall  forward  the  same,  together  with  all  necessary 
papers,  relative  to  the  breeding  or  ownership  of  said  animals,  to  the  secretary 
of  the  examining  and  registration  board,  who  in  turn  shall  issue  the  proper 
certificate. 

5.  The  owner  of  any  stallion  or  jack  used  for  public  service  in  this  state 
shall  post  and  keep  affixed,  during  the  entire  breeding  season  copies  of  the 
license  certificate  of  such  stallion  or  jack  issued  under  the  provision  of 
section  six  in  a  conspicuous  place,  both  within  and  upon  the  outside  of  every 
stable  or  building  where  said  stallion  or  jack  is  used  for  public  service,  at 
his  home  or  elsewhere.  Such  copies  shall  lie  printed  in  iKild-faced  and  con- 
spicuous type,  not  smaller  than  "  long  primer,"  and  the  words  "  pure  bred  " 
or  "  grade  "  must  precede  the  name  of  the  stallion  or  jack,  as  the  case  may  be. 


The  Need  of  a  Stallio.n  Law  211 

6.  The  license  certificate  issued  after  proper  examination  of  the  stallion  or 
jack,  whose  sire  and  dam  are  of  pure  breeding,  and  the  pedigree  of  which  is 
registered  In  a  stud-hook  recognized  by  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture,  shall  be  in  the  following  form: 

Stallion  Examining  and  Registration  Board. 
License  Certificate  of  Pure-Bred  Stallion. 

Tlie   pedigree   of   tlie   stallion   or   jack    I  name) 

owned  by    bred  by   described  as 

follows   color breed    

foaled  in  the  year   has  been  examined  at  the 

State  Experiment  Station  by  the  Animal  Husbandman,  and  it  is  hereby 
certified  that  the  said  stallion  is  of  pure  breeding  and  is  registered  in  a 
stud-book  recognized  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture.     The 

above-named  stallion  has  been  examined  by   and  is 

reported  as  free  from  infectious,  contagious,  transmissible  disease  or  un- 
soundness, and  is  licensed  to  stand  for  public  service  in  the  state  of  New 
Jersey. 

Signed 

Animal  Husbandman  and  Secretary  of  the 

Stallicm  Examining  and 

Registration  Board. 

7.  The  license  certificate  issued  after  a  proper  examination  for  a  grade 
stallion  or  jack  (the  term  "grade"  being  herein  defined  as  a  stallion  or  a 
jack  having  for  its  sire  or  dam  a  pure-bred  individual  registered  in  a  stud- 
liook  recognized  by  the  I'nited  States  Department  of  Agriculture)  shall  be  as 
follows : 

The  license  certificate  issued  after  proper  examination  for  a  stallion  whose 
sire  or  dam  is  not  of  pure  breeding  shall  be  in  the  following  form : 

Stallion  Examining  and  Registration  Board. 
License  Certificate  of  Grade  Stallion. 

The  pedigree  of  the  stallion  or  jack    (name) 

ownea  by   bred  by   described 

as  follows    color   breed    

foaled  in  the  year    has  been  examined  at  the 

State  Experiment  Station  Division  of  Animal  Husbandry,  and  it  is  hereby 
certified  that  the  said  stallion  or  jack  is  not  of  pure  l)reedirtg,  and  is, 
therefore,  not  eligible  for  registration  in  any  stud-book  recognized  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 

The   above-named   stallion   or   jack   has   been   examined   by    

,  and  is  reported  as  free  from  infectious,  contagious  or  transmissible 

disease  or  unsoundness,  and  is  licensed  to  stand  for  public  service  in  the  state 
of  New  Jersey. 

Signed 

Animal  Husbandman  and  Secretary  of  the 

Stallion  Examining  and 

Registration  Board. 

8.  Every  bill,  poster  or  advertisement  issued  by  the  owner  of  any  stallion 
or  jack,  licensed  under  this  act  and  used  for  advertising  such  stallion  or 
jack  sliall  contain  a  copy  of  his  license  certificate  and  shall  not  contain 
illustration,  pedigree  or  other  matter  that  is  untruthful  or  misleading. 

9.  A  fee  of  five  dollars  shall  be  paid  to  the  secretary  of  the  Stallion 
Examining  and  Registration  Board  for  the  examination  and  enrollment  of 
eacli  accepted  pedigree,  after  wliich  he  shall  issue  a  license  certificate  in 
accordance  witli  the  breeding  of  the  animal  as  above  recorded.  A  fee  of 
two  dollars  shall  be  paid  annually  for  the  renewal  of  pedigree  certificate  and 
service   license.      Stallions   shall   be  examined   every   year   until   ten   years  of 


212  The  lloitsE  I.xdistry  of  New  York  State 

ao-e,   and   after   the   first   examination   shall   be   exempt   if   ten   years   of   age 
or  over. 

10.  ITpon  the  transfer  of  the  ownership  of  any  stallion  or  jack,  licensed 
under  the  provision  of  this  act,  the  license  certificate  may  be  transferred  by 
the  secretary  of  tlie  board  to  the  transferee  upon  presentation  and  surrender 
of  the  license  certificate  and  upon  the  payment  of  one  dollar. 

11.  Any  person  who  shrll  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall 
be  liable  to  a  penalty  of  fifty  dollars  for  ilie  first  ofi'ense,  and  to  a  penalty 
of  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  second  and  each  subsequent  offense.  Such 
penalty  shall  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt  at  the  suit  of  the  Live  Stock 
Commission  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  AH  penalties  and  fees  collected 
under  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  be  paid  by  such  Live  Stock 
Commission  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

12.  This  act  shall  take  efi"ect  September  first,  one  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  eight. 

Approved  April  13,  1908. 


EFFECTS  OF  THE  WISCONSIN  STALLION  LAW 

Dr.  a.  S.  Alexaxbek,  M.  I).  C,  AIadisox,  Wis.* 
Senior  Professor  of  Veterinary  Science,  University  of  Wisconsin. 

The  effects  of  the  stallion  law  of  Wiscon- 
sin have  been  so  good  that  I  am  snre  that  a 
siniihir  huv  would  be  equally  eifective  in  the 
state  of  Xew  York. 


BENEFITS  OF  THE  LAW 

A  stallion  law  is  not  an  imposition  upon 
any  stallion  owner.  It  does  not  prohibit 
the  standing  of  a  stallion  for  public  sei*vice 
if  he  is  sound;  it  requires  that  each  stal- 
lion offered  for  service  shall  be  sound  — 
free  from  certain  serious  hereditary  and  communicable  or  con- 
tagious diseases  —  and  shall  be  correctly  labeled  as  to  breeding. 
This  is  for  the  protection  of  the  owner  of  mares,  who  will  be  able, 
by  reading  the  license  certificate  of  the  enrolled  stallion, 
to  learn  whether  the  horse  is  "■  pure-bred/'  "  cross-bred,"  "  grade  '' 
or  ''  scrub."  Many  stallions  now  accounted  pure  bred  in  Xew 
York  will  be  found  to  have  registry  certificates  from  stud  books 
not  recognized  as  standard,  or  to  have  fictitious  or  even  fraudu- 
lent pedigrees  or  registry  papers.  If  a  stallion  law^  w^as  passed, 
such  stallions,  if  permitted  to  stand  for  service,  would  be  correctly 
labeled  as  grade  or  scrub  as  the  case  might  be. 

A  stallion  law  quickly  prevents  all  fraud  in  stallion  pedigree 
and  registry  matters,  drives  out  the  notably  unsound  sires,  and  in 
time  tends  to  eliminate  grade  and  scrub  stallions.  Such  has  been 
the  eftect  of  the  law^  in  Wisconsin,  where  it  is  approved  by  edu- 
cators, legislators,  horse  breeders  and  fanners. 

THE    WISCONSIN    LAW 

The  Wisconsin  stallion  law  was  drawn  up  by  the  writer  of  this 
article,  was  enacted  by  the  legislature  of  1905   and  Avent   into 

*  Dr.  Alexander  drafted  and  had  enacted  the  first  stallion  enrollment  law  in 
America.  It  was  enacted  in  1905  and  went  into  effect  January  1,  1906,  in 
Wisconsin. 

[213] 


214  Tup:  Hokse  Industry  in  jSTew  Vokk  State 

effect  January  1,  .15)0(j.  That  year  many  stallions  were  enrolled, 
and  the  following  year  practically  every  stallion  in  Wisconsin 
was  on  the  official  list.  So  wc  have  made  comparisons  with  the 
condition  in  1907  instead  of  in  19(3'6  in  compiling  annual  statistics 
showing  the  results  of  the  law.  The  law  is  enforced  by  the  De- 
partment of  Agriculture  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  of  the 
University  of  Wisconsin,  in  charge  of  the  writer. 

The  forthcoming  annual  report  of  the  Department  of  Horse 
Breeding  will  show  that,  despite  a  somewhat  depressed  condition 
of  the  horse  breeding  business  during  the  past  year,  substantial 
progress  has  been  ma.de  in  the  elimination  of  undesirable  sires. 

WEEDS    OUT    SCRUBS 

In  1907  the  percentage  of  grade  and  scrub  stallions  was  65, 
now  it  is  41.8,  compared  with  45  in  1914.  Pure-bred  stallions 
now  number  1,771,  gTade  stallions  913  and  scrubs  345.  Grades 
numbered  1,019  and  scrubs  404  in  1914.  Since  1907  pure-bred 
stallions  have  increased  in  60  out  of  the  71  counties  of  the  state, 
decreased  in  9  and  remained  the  same  in  2  counties.  During  the 
same  time  grade  and  scrub  stallions  have  decreased  in  56,  in- 
creased in  11  and  remained  the  same  in  4  counties.  In  1907,  11 
counties  had  fifty  per  cent  or  over  of  pure-bred  stallions.  In 
1915  over  fifty  counties  show  that  proportion.  Notable  increases 
of  pure  stallions  since  1907  have  been  28  head  in  Barron  county, 
26  in  Brown,  24  each  in  Wahvorth  and  Monroe,  22  in  Chippewa 
and  21  in  St.  Croix.  The  most  notable  decreases  in  grade  and 
scrub  stallions  have  been  69  head  in  Grant  county,  56  in  Dane, 
45  in  Monroe,  30  each  in  Brown  and  ^lanitowoc,  28  in  Fond  du 
Lac  and  25  each  in  La  Fayette  and  Trempealeau. 

INCREASE    OF    PURE    BREEDS 

Of  the  draft  breeds,  pure-bred  Percherons  number  1,052 ; 
Belgians,  166;  Clydesdales,  74;  French  drafts,  64;  Shires,  46, 
and  Suffolks,  1.  Of  the  light  breeds  there  are  276  Standard- 
bred  trotters  and  pacers,  17  French  coach,  19  German  coach,  6 
Hackney  and  22  Morgans.  Registered  jacks  number  16,  and 
there  are  also  8  non-standard  bred  and  5  cross-bred  stallions  in 
service. 


STALLION  ENROLLMENT  LAW 

E.  S.  Akix,  SYRAcrsE,  N.  Y. 

Since  1912  there  has  been  a  strong  movement  in  this  state 
favoring  a  law  to  regulate  the  public  service  of  stallions.  Such 
a  law  has  been  freely  discussed,  and  resolutions  passed  by  the 
New  York  State  Breeders'  Association,  Xew  York  State  Agri- 
cultural Society  and  ]^ew  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders'  Club 
in  favor  of  a  rational  stallion  enrollment  law.  Government  con- 
trol by  inspection  and  licensing  of  stallions  is  not  an  untried  ex- 
periment. For  many  years  the  governments  of  Belgium  and 
France  have  required  the  inspection  of  all  stallions  offered  for 
public  service,  .and  have  refused  license  to  stallions  lacking  in 
soundness,  breeding  and  physical  conformation.  While  the  laws  of 
these  countries  are  more  stringent  than  would  be  possible  in  this 
state,  they  have  been  the  means  of  creating  and  maintaining  two 
superior  breeds  of  horses,  the  Belgian  and  Percheron. 

Wisconsin  was  the  first  state  to  pass  a  stallion  enrollment  law. 
Since  then  some  twenty  other  states,  besides  Canada,  have  stallion 
laws  on  somewhat  similar  lines.  The  following  is  a  brief  sum- 
mary of  a  stallion  enrollment  law  suggested  for  H^ew  York: 

1.  The  addition  of  a  bureau  of  horse  breeding  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  with  a  chief  in  charge  appointed  for  his 
practical  rather  than  his  technical  knowledge. 

2.  The  enrollment  of  all  stallions  required. 

3.  Inspection  of  all  stallions,  and  issuing  certificates  of  en- 
rollment for  stallions  not  disqualified  by  incurable,  infectious  or 
contagious  diseases. 

4.  All  stallions  enrolled  to  be  advertised  under  tlieir  true 
division  as  pu^-e-bred,  g'rade,  standardbred,  non-standard  find 
scrub;  and  the  condition  of  soundness  indicated. 

The  benefit  of  such  a  law  would  be  a  knowledge  of  the  number 
of  pure-bred  and  scrub,  sound  and  unsound  stallions  in  the  state. 
Only  by  publicity  and  education  can  the  number  of  scrub  and  un- 
sound stallions  be  reduced,  and  the  number  of  sound  pure-bred 
sires  increased.  The  small  fee  paid  by  the  o^vner  of  each  stallion 
would  cover  all  expenses  of  a  bureau  of  horse  breeding,  which 
would  have  charge  of  the  inspection  and  enrollment,  and  would 
tax  no  other  industry  for  the  benefit  of  horse  breeding. 

[215] 


COMMUNITY  EFFORT  IN  DRAFT  HORSE  BREEDING 

J.  L.  Edmoxds,  Ukbaxa,  111. 
Assistant  Professor  in  Horse  Husbandry,  University  of  Illinois 

IMPORTANCE    OF    COMMUNITY    BREEDING 

Community  effort  is  of  fundamental  im- 
poTtance  to  successful  draft  horse  breeding ; 
in  fact,  no  other  class  of  live  stock  breeding- 
is  quite  so  much  benefited  bv  united  effort 
in  breeding  operations  as  is  the  draft  horse. 
All  of  our  wide  and  favorably  knovv^n  Euro- 
pean and  British  breeds  of  drafters  attest 
the  truthfulness  of  this  statement.  When 
one  considers  the  relatively  small  area  in 
those  countries  which  have  produced  many 
of  the  sires  used  here  for  breeding  purposes,  the  significance  of 
this  statement  is  still  further  emphasized.  Acquaintance  with 
producing  sections  in  this  country  indicates  that  it  is  true  here 
as  well  as  in  foreign  lands. 

Local  fairs  generally  furnish  excellent  criterions  of  horse 
breeding  conditions  in  the  vicinity  from  which  they  drav;  exhibits. 
These  smaller  fairs  serve  well  not  only  to  show  the  important 
benefits  to  be  derived  from  community  efforts,  but  also,  on  the 
other  hand,  show  as  well  the  kind  of  horse  which  is  produced 
where  there  is  altogether  a  lack  of  such  effort.  The  production  of  -■ 
"  top-notchers  "  demands  the  use  of  high-class  sires,  dams  of  merit, 
considerable  numbers  available  for  selection,  and  liberal  feeding 
which  is  wisely  done.  These  factors  are,  by  all  odds,  most  likely  ■ 
to  exist  where  the  right  sort  of  community  spirit  prevails. 

OWNERSHIP  OF  GOOD  SIRES  IS  MADE  POSSIBLE 

Ownership  of  really  good  draft  sires  is  not  profitable  without 
opportunity  to  use  them  on  a  considerable  number  of  mares  at 
least  approximating  them  in  merit.  It  generally  seems  to  be  the 
case  that  only  such  mare  owners  will  pay  a  high  enough  service 
fee  to  make  the  o\vning  of  a  high-class  draft  sire  at  all  remuner- 
ative to  his  owner.     Some  of  the  best  sires  have  been  entirely,  or 

[216] 


CoMMUXiTY  Effort  in  Draft  Horse  Breeding       217 

nlmost  entirely  lost  to  their  breeds  because  of  having  been  sold 
to  individuals  or  companies  who  stood  them  in  out-of-the-way 
neighborhoods  which  did  not  possess  any  good  draft  mares.  This, 
however,  is  not  so  likely  to  happen  now  as  formerly.  Even  the 
good  stallion  cannot  do  it  all;  the  dams  must  be  right  as  well. 
The  practice  of  selling  off  all  the  mares  that  the  horse  buyer  will 
take  at  a  good  price  and  preserving  the  culls  for  breeding  pur- 
poses, makes  for  inferiority  in  the  succeeding  generations.  In 
the  corn  belt,  the  best  heavy  geldings  are  produced  in  those  sec- 
tions where  it  has  been  difficult  to  buy  the  best  of  the  mares  on 
account  of  their  value  being  properly  appreciated.  One  section 
in  Illinois,  with  which  the  writer  is  familiar,  is  justly  famous  for 
producing  good,  big  horses,  because  they  have  not  only  used  the 
best  sires  that  could  be  gotten,  but  because  a  concerted  effoit  has 
been  made  by  the  local  horsemen  to  prevent  the  good  producing 
mares  from  being  shipped  out  of  that  locality.  Other  sections 
containing  as  good  or  better  land,  and  fully  as  good  sires,  have 
not  been  so  successful  beca"'jse  of  failing  to  keep  the  mares  that 
were  capable  of  producing  round  draft  horses  of  the  correct  type. 

NUMBER    HIGHLY    IMPORTANT 

The  number  of  draft  horses  in  one  community  which  are 
similar  in  type  and  breeding  is  an  important  factor.  The  selection 
of  the  tops  from  a  few  good  ones  is  not  nearly  so  efficient  in  the 
work  of  improvement  as  is  the  selection  of  tops  from  a  large 
number  of  good  individuals.  In  a  progressive  breeding  com- 
munity, affording  as  it  does  a  chance  to  use  choice  pure-bred  sires, 
the  best  of  drafters  can  be  produced  by  the  small  farmer  who  does 
his  work  with  a  few  brood  mares.  Furthermore,  such  a  system 
means  cheaper  production  than  can  be  the  case  where  breeding  is 
conducted  on  such  a  scale  as  necessitates  the  keej)ing  of  a  large 
numbers  of  mares  idle.  Again,  the  idle  draft  mare  is  not  likely 
to  be  so  regTilar  a  breeder  as  is  her  sister  that  is  regularly  worked 
—  with  proper  judgment,  of  course  —  on  the  land.  When  the 
number  of  sires  is  such  as  to  enable  the  mare  o-^mer  to  have  the 
choice  of  several  cood  breeding  horses  with  which  to  mate  his  dif- 
ferent mares,  he  will  then  have  opportunity  for  the  greatest  success, 
provided  the  mating'is  skillfully  done.   It  is  well  known  that  even 


218  The  Horse  Industry  of  New  York  State 


Community  Effort  i.n  Draft  Horse  Breeding        219 

many  of  the  best  sires  can  be  crossed  much  more  successfully 
with  some  mares  than  with  others.  Then  again,  the  production  of 
good  things  in  considerable  quantity  in  one  locality  brings  the 
right  sort  of  buyers,  thus  making  for  better  prices  and  a  better 
appreciation  of  values  generally. 

KXOWLEDGE    OF   CORRECT    TYPE   AND   EIGHT    BI.OOD    LINES    IS    MADE 

ACCESSIBLE 

When  pure-breds  and  grades  of  one  draft  breed  are  handled  in 
a  community  to  the  practical  exclusion  of  the  others,  the  matter 
of  the  right  type  or  correct  pattern  is  a  matter  of  much  more 
general  knowledge;  and,  after  a  few  generations  of  striving,  will 
be  "  bred  in  the  bone,"  so  to  speak.  Furthermore,  a  knowledge  of 
blood  lines  is  also  a  matter  of  easier  g'rasp.  Such  communities 
can,  with  success,  gradually  take  up  the  production  of  registered 
stock  and  grow  breeding  stock  to  sell  to  other  communities.  The 
best  route  by  which  to  reach  the  production  of  pure-breds  is  by 
the  one  having  been  a  successful  producer,  of  grades. 

LIBERAL  FEEDING  NECESSARY 

Feeding  naturally  is  of  vital  importance  and  has  to  be  con- 
sidered all  along  the  line.  Keeping  young  stock  thrifty  and  in 
salable  shape  at  all  times  makes  more  for  profit  than  is  often 
realized.  Quite  frequently  the  well-fed  pure-bred  yearling  will 
bring  more  than  a  two-year-old  which  is  similar  except  with 
respect  to  feeding.  Good  breeding  will  not  succeed  unless  backed 
up  by  liberal  feeding. 

ORGANIZATIONS 

Organizations  other  than  fair  associations  help  much,  although 
they  are  not  absolutely  necessary.  Good  feeling  and  true  public 
spirit  are,  however,  of  basal  importance  to  community  work. 
There  are  not  a  few  neighborhoods  which  owe  their  present  high 
standing,  with  respect  to  draft  horse  j)roductiGn,  to  the  advice  and 
timely  effort  of  a  few  far-seeing  pioneer  breeders  of  good  stock. 
With  an  increasing  number  of  county  organizations  and  of  county 
agents,  the  opportunity  foi-  useful  societies  for  furthering  the 
efforts  of  the  local  breeders  is  measurably  increased.  It  is  marvel- 
ous how  much  publicity  of  the  proper  sort  may  be  had  through 


220  The  House   Industry  of  New  Yokk  State 

such  channels.     As  a  model  might  be  cited  the  work  of  the  Taze- 
well County  Illinois  Percheron  Breeders'  Association. 

What  changes  will  help  in  local  fairs?  First,  probably,  would 
come  a  systematic  overhauling  of  classification  lists.  Those 
classifications  are  best  which  give  most  prominence  to  the  kinds 
of  horses  for  which  there  is  the  most  profitable  demand  on  the 
market.  Such  classes  are  found  to  be  more  educational,  and, 
furthermore,  give  money  to  the  sorts  the  production  of  which 
should  be  encouraged.  It  should  be  needless  to  argue  that  at 
com  belt  fairs  the  owner  of  a  valuable  pure-bred  draft  stallion 
ought  to  have  a  chance  to  win  more  money  than  the  owner  of  a 
light-leg  stallion  that  could  not  be  sold  for  tw.o  "bills"  on  the 
market.  Then  again,  a  greater  number  of  prizes  ought  to  be  pro- 
vided in  classes  filled  by  youngsters.  A  first  and  second  premium 
are  not  nearly  enough  for  a  class  of  fifteen  or  twenty  foals. 
Superfluous  it  is  to  say  that  the  separation  of  the  different  breeds 
and  their  grades  into  classes  by  themselves  in  so  far  as  is 
possible,  makes  for  tranquillity.  Quite  often  this  could  be  accom- 
plished by  discarding  useless  classes.  The  classification  list  all 
through  ought  to  cater  to  the  community  specialty  if  it  is  worthy 
of  such  attention.  It  would  help  some,  too,  if  a  brief  but  clear 
description  of  what  the  class  called  for  might  be  printed  in  the 
premium  list. 

In  some  instances,  and  at  very  little  cost,  better  locations  could 
be  secured  for  showing  the  drafters.  Many  people  are  interested, 
and  it  should  be  so  arranged  that  they  will  have  opportunity  for 
observation  without  being  in  danger  of  getting  stepped  on.  A 
rectangle  of  level  gTound  sixty  by  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
feet,  or  thereabouts,  will  answer  well  for  quite  a  show  of  drafters 
on  hand.  iSTow  is  a  good  time  to  start  plans  for  next  fall's  fair 
and  colt  shows. 


t 


HORSE  BREEDING  IN  THE  WEST  AND  EAST 


Forest  HexXky,  Dovek,  Mixxesota 

Farmers"  Institute  Lecturer 
SUPPLY    OF   GOOD    HORSES    SMALL 

In  the  West,  as  a  whole,  there  is  but  a 
limited  supply  of  really  good  horses. 
'There  is  a  goodly  number  of  work  horses 
for  home  use,  but  many  of  these  would  not 
be  a  desirable  kind  to  put  oai  the  market. 

There  are  many  reasons  for  this  inade- 
quate supply  of  good  horses.  First,  beef 
and  pork  have  ruled  high  for  several  years, 
and  grain  has  been  selling  for  a  good  price. 
Farmers  have  been,  able  to  secure  quicker 
returns  by  selling  their  grain  on  the  market  or  feeding  it  oait  to 
hogs  and  steers,  and  make  quite  as  good  money  at  a  less  risk  than 
growing  horses  for  the  market,  especially  when  many  thought 
that  horses  must  be  lower  in  price  on  account  of  the  displacement 
of  many  horses  in  city  and  country  by  motor  trucks  and  gas 
tractors.  So  far  this  has  not  proven  true,  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  many  motor  trucks  and  tractors  are  in  use.  A  really 
good  horse  sells  just  about  as  well  today  as  at  any  time  in  .the  past ; 
the  commoner  sort  are  changing  hands  at  a  less  price. 


THE  AUTOMOBILE  CRAZE 

Another  thing  that  has  not  added  to  the  horse  breeding  industry 
in  the  West  is  the  automobile  craze.  It  can  hardly  be  called  any- 
thing else.  While  the  automobile  is  all  right  in  its  place,  a  man 
cannot  be  thoroughly  interested  in  horse  raising  —  and  he  must 
be  if  he  is  to  make  a  success  of  it  —  when  his  head  is  full  of 
automobiles  and  automobile  appliances. 

Again,  when  a  man  is  spending  his  last  dollar  for  an  auto- 
mobile he  is  not  able  to  stock  up  with  better  mares  or  sires.  In 
fact,  he  is  often  tempted  to  sell  something  that  he  should  really 

[221] 


222  The  Hokse  Ixdistk-y  oe  New  York  iS'tate 

keep  to  improve  liis  stock  of  horses  to  buv  that  new  model  auto 
that  is  just  one  year  newer  than  the  one  his  neighbor  owns.  There 
surely  has  l)een  less  iiitei'est  taken  in  hoi-se  breeding-  since  the 
advent  of  the  automobile.  A  fe.w  men  are  lc\-el  headed  enough  to 
have  looked  ahead  and  anticipated  the  demand  there  will  be  for 
horses  in  the  near  future  and  will  be  ready  to  meet  that  demand, 
but  these  are  in  the  minority.  There  never  was  a  time  when  the 
future  looked  brighter  for  the  really  good  horse. 

the    EUROPEAN    WAR    IS    CONSUMING    MANY    UNDESIRABLE    HORSES 

Hundreds  of  thousands  of  the  lighter  sorts  that  could  not  be 
styled  as  draft  horses  have  been  bought  up  on  foreign  orders  for 
use  in  the  armies  of  Euro|)e.  This  has  been  a  great  blessing  for 
the  western  horse  raiser,  for  they  have  taken  just  the  type  of  horse 
that  is  not  making  the  breeder  any  profit. 

The  supply  of  horses  in  Europe  was  short  before  the  war  broke 
out.  Since  the  struggle  began  hundreds  of  thousands  have  been 
destroyed  —  the  life  of  an  army  horse  is  at  best  only  a  few  brief 
weeks.  If  the  struggle  continues,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  horses 
must  come  from  America  to  till  the  places  of  those  destroyed ; 
there  is  no  other  source  to  draw  from. 

The  entire  horse  supply  of  the  German  Empire  before  the  war 
was  less  than  4,000,000  ;  that  of  France  was  only  about  2,500,000, 
and  of  the  Ih-itish  Isles,  3,000,000.  Russia  had  the  largest  supply 
of  all  the  warring  nations. 

When  the  war  is  over  and  the  soldiers  return  to  the  farm,  they 
will  find  themselves  wath  less  than  a  half  supply  of  work  horses. 
The  fields  will  have  to  be  tilled,  and  they  must  have  horses  to 
till  them.  They  will  naturally  turn  to  America  for  their  supply — 
and  Europe  always  buys  the  best. 

THE    FUTURE    BRIGHT    FOB    HOESE    BREEDING 

Is  it  not  time  for  the  American  farmer  to  grasp  the  situation 
and  put  himself  in  a  position  to  supply  this  demand  ?  Horses 
that  are  really  good  will  bring  a  splendid  price  —  a  price  that 
v/ill  pay  the  breeder  a  splendid  margin  of  profit  if  he  has  bred 
the  right  kind  and  grown  them  economically. 


HoESE  Breedixg  IX  THE  West  and  East  223 

GOOD    CARE    XECESSAR\ 

A  really  good  horse  must  be  bred  right,  fed  right  and  handled 
right.  He  cannot  l)e  neglected  while  young,  and  must  improve 
eveiy  moment  growing  it"  he  is  to  till  the  market  demand  later. 
One  cannot  starve  money  into  a  draft  colt.     He  must  be  fed. 

One  thing  our  best  horsemen  are  learning  to  do,  which  lessens 
the  risk  in  horse  raising,  is  giving  the  colts  plenty  of  range  with 
a  goodly  supply  of  feed  winter  and  summer.  A  colt  should  not 
be  closely  housed  if  he  is  to  be  keep  sound  and  thrifty.  He  will 
stand  a  great  deal  of  cold  after  the  first  winter,  if  he  can  get  out 
of  the  wind,  and  out  of  the  rain  in  stormy  weather.  Our  very 
best  horsemen  throughout  the  West,  let  their  colts  run  on  pasture 
the  entire  year.  In  winter  they  are  fed  plenty  of  grain  to  keep 
them  in  good  growing  condition,  and  are  given  clover  hay  when 
they  cannot  pick  their  roughage.  They  are  never  confined  in  the 
barn  or  small  yard.  Under  these  conditions  they  get  their  regular 
exercise,  keep  healthy  and  are  very  much  less  liable  to  injure 
themselves.  I  can  show  hundreds  of  our  best  pure-bred  animals 
in  the  West  that  have  never  seen  the  inside  of  a  barn  since  they 
were  weanlings.  With  this  system  it  costs  a  little  more  for  grain 
feed,  possibly,  but  there  is  far  less  risk,  whicb  means  nearly  as 
much  as  the  feed  bill ;  and  one  gets  a  better  development,  which 
is  what  he  is  after.  Keep  the  colt  growing,  and  fatten  him  only 
once  —  just  before  he  is  put  on  the  market. 

NEW    YORK    SHOULD    RAISE    ITS    OWX    HORSES 

I  have  always  wondered  as  I  have  traveled  through  i^ew  York 
why  the  farmers  did  not  raise  more  of  their  work  horses.  I  have 
come  to  this  conclusion :  that  while  land  was  so  very  cheap  in  the 
West  and  grain  also  w^as  very  cheap,  making  the  cost  of  production 
so  very  low,  farmers  got  in  the  habit  of  buying  from  tliB  West 
simply  because  they  could  buy  cheaper  than  they  could  grow  their 
own,  which  was  tiiie  in  the  past.  The  same  law  does  not  hold  true 
today.  Land  is  much  higher  in  the  West  than  in  the  East,  conse- 
quently it  costs  very  much  more  to  grow  a  horse  there  now  than 
it  did  years  ago.  There  are,  in  New  York  State,  thon sands  of 
acres  of  reasonably  cheap  land  that  ife-  capable  of  growing  splendid 
pasture  grasses.  These  should  be  utilized  in  part  by  raising 
horses. 


224  The  House  Imdistuy  i\   New   Yoim<   State 

There  is  one  thing  the  eastern  farmer  should  take  into  con- 
sideration when  he  is  figuring  the  cost  of  his  horse.  When  an 
animal  is  bought  from  the  West,  there  is  always  an  element  of 
risk  that  has  to  be  figured  in  the  deal,  that  the  eastern  farmer 
has  to  pay  for  when  he  purchases. 

There  is  also  some  risk  after  the  animal  is  taken  to  the  farm  — 
he  has  to  be  acclimated.  In  other  words,  he  is  usually  not  at  his 
best  the  first  season,  and  frequently  the  buyer  is  not  fully  satis- 
fied with  his  purchase.  This  could  be  eliminated  by  the  farmers 
growing  their  own  horses. 

Another  point  that  is  of  still  greater  moment :  for  a  man  to  get 
the  greatest  possible  service  from  a  horse  at  the  least  amount  of 
risk,  he  must  be  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  animal.  He 
must  know  his  peculiarities,  just  as  one  must  be  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  a  man  to  fully  appreciate  him. 

o^B  beco:mes  attached  to  a  horse  raised  ox  the  farm 

Again,  one  becomes  attached  to  a  horse  raised  on  the  farm,  and 
will  give  him  better  care.  The  horse,  in  turn,  will  be  in  shape  to 
render  moTe  and  better  service.  When  one  goes  out  and  buys  a 
horse  on  the  market  he  is  very  apt  to  think  of  him  and  use  him 
as  a  machine  rather  than  an  animal. 

There  is  no  other  farm  animal  that  has  such  an  influence  over 
the  farmer  and  his  children  growing  up  as  the  really  good  horse 
raised  on  the  farm.  Good  horses  have  kept  more  than  one  man 
on  the  farm  when  he  has  been  tempted  to  move  to  town.  Hun- 
dreds of  boys  that  have  now  grown  to  manhood,  were  they  to  give 
their  life  history,  would  say  that  no  one  factor  had  so  much  to 
do  with  holding  them  on  the  farm  as  the  horses.  The  writer  is 
one  of  these.  The  good  horse  is  what  kept  him  on  the  farm  when 
he  was  tempted  to  leave  —  not  the  horse  bought  and  brought  on 
the  farm,  but  the  horse  grown  on  the  far.m  —  the  horse  his  own 
hands  had  fed  and  cared  for.  If  we  are  desirous  of  having  the 
boys  stay  on  the  old  farm,  get  them  a  good  matched  pair  of  mares 
of  quality.  It  will  do  more  than  any  amount  of  persuasion  on 
our  part,  and  at  the  same  time  will  stop  a  big  leakage  in  the 
operating  expense  of  the  farm  —  buying  horses  from  the  West. 


Jf  GLANDERS   OR   FARCY 

Dr.    Ciiarj.es    Li.xcii,   Alba.w,   X.   Y. 
First  Assistant   Veterinarian,  State  Department  of  Agriculture 

Glanders,  or  farcy,  is  one  of  the  most 
important  diseases  of  horses.  It  has 
long  been  recognized  as  a  specific  infec- 
tions disease,  dne  to  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment within  the  body  of  the  animal 
of  one  specific  kind  of  germ  or  bacteria. 
It  affects  horses  and  mnles  principally. 
Dogs  and  cats  are  said  to  be  somewhat 
susceptible,  and  may  become  affected  by 
eating  the  flesh  of  glandered  horses. 
Cattle,  sheep,  swine  and  goats  are  almost  immune.  Men  some- 
times contract  the  disease,  usually  with  fatal  results. 

Glanders  has  been  known  to  exist  for  hundreds  of  years.  It 
has  been  fomid  to  spread  more  rapidly  after  wars,  due  to  selling 
the  horses  at  the  close,  thus  scattering  infected  animals  over  the 
country. 

CAUSE 

Glanders  is  an  infectious  .  disease  caused 
by  the  hacilTus  mallei.  While  due  to  a  cer- 
tain distinct  organism,  there  are  neverthe- 
less certain  conditions  which  may  be  said  to 
predispose  the  animal  to  the  disease,  such  as 

insanitary    conditions,    dark,    damp    stables 

,     „      '  -1     •  n    J"  •         1         Fif'-  ^^-    Bacillus  Mal- 

ancl    tauity    ventilation  — =  all    lavoring    bac-     lei,    Magntfied    1,050 

terial  life.      Theee  conditions,  together  with      Times. 
overwork  and  lack  of  nourishing  food,  render  the  animal  more 
liable  to  contract  the  disease,  if  exposed,  by  lowering  its  vitality 
and  resistant  powers. 

SYMPTOMS 

Glanders,  like  tuberculosis,  is  often  present  in  an  animal  with- 
out   showing   any    noticeable    symptoms ;    horses    may    be   badly 
affected  and  yet  appear  to  be  in  perfect  health.     For  our  purpose 
15  [225] 


226 


The  IIokse  Industky   in'  New   York   Statp: 


consider  the  disease  to  be  divided  into  three  chisscs  —  glanders 
of  the  lungs,  nose  and  skin.  It  must  he  hoi'ne  in  mind,  how- 
ever, that  these  forais  merge  into  each  other,  and  that  one  or  all 
of  them  may  be  present  in  the  same  animal  at  one  time.  Glanders 
of  the  lungs  may  present  no  noticeable  symptoms  for  morths  that 
would  lead  to  suspicion.  The  first  thing  noticed  may  be  a  sudden 
bleeding  from  the  nose  or  a  discharge  of  bloody  mucous ;  some- 
times a  loss  of  flesh  and  an  unthrifty,  run-down  condition  with  a 
short,  dry,  hacking  cough,  accompanied  by  a  slight  rise  in  tem- 
perature to  101  to  103  degrees  F.  The  animal  may  remain  in 
this  unthrifty  condition  without  any  apparent  cause  for  months, 
and  die  without  showing  any  definite  symptoms. 


Fig.  7(3.     (;la.\iii.i:s  I  i.ckiis  oi:  I".\H(  y  Bids 

Glanders  of  the  nose  usu;illy  begins  with  a  watery  discharge 
from  one  or  both  nostrils,  wliich  later  becomes  thicker  and  more 
abundant,  and  may  be  streaked  with  blood.  This  discharge  is 
odorless,  sticky  iu  character  and  adheres  to  the  sides  of  the  nostrils. 
It  has  a  tendency  to  glue  together  the  long  hairs  and  margins, 
forming  hard,  dry  crusts.  Tf  the  mucous  membrane  has  a  large 
number  of  ulcers,  the  respiration  may  become  wheezing,  a  sound 
recognized  at  once  by  the  experienced  veterinarian,  which  is 
caused  by  the  swelling  of  the  nasal  cavities.  Often  there  is  only 
a  dark,  reddish  color  to  the  mucous  membrane.  The  glands 
between  the  jaws  (submaxillary)  are  usually  enlarged  on  the 
afi'ected  side,  the  swelling  being  nodular  in  character  and  pain- 
less, adhering  to  the  skin  and  jaw  bone. 


GrLAXDEKS    ()I{    FarCY 


227 


Glanders  nodules,  rani>ing  in  size  from  that  of  a  pea  to  a 
liiekorv  nnt,  may  appear  on  the  skin  of  the  different  parts  of  the 
l)()d_v.  'rii(>se  ]i()dnles  tend  to  hi-eak  down  and  form  ulcers,  coni- 
nioidv  called  farcy  buds,  and  discliarge  more  or  less  bloody  liquid, 
leaving  a  ragged-edged,  unhealthy  sore,  which  may  heal  and  leave 
a  bare  spot  or  scar.  Iliese  ulcers  occur  mostly  on  the  inside  of 
the  hind  legs  and  abdomen,  or  on  the  sides  of  the  thorax.  There 
may  be  swelling  of  one  or  both  hind  legs,  with  or  without  ulcers. 
The  inner  sides  of  the  fetlock  and  hock  joints  are  favorite  places 
for  them,  l»ut  they  may  occur  at  any  point.  In  acute  cases  there 
is  usually  a  high  temperature  of  lOo  or  104  degrees  F.,  accom- 


Fli..    //.      (iLANDERS   UlCER.S   OF  THE   XaSAL   SePTT'.M 

panied  by  great  prostration,  stifl'uess,  erection  of  the  hair,  loss  of 
appetite,  etc.  Animals  showing  suspicious  indications  of  glanders 
should  be  examined  by  the  subcutaneous  or  opthalmic  mallein 
test,  or  bv  some  of  the  blood  tests. 


POST     ^rORTEM 

The  most  frequent  and  characteristic  lesions  in  physical  cases 
are  nodules,  or  ulcers,  of  the  nasal  passages  and  skin.  These 
ulcers  may  be  superficial  or  deep,  their  edges  giving  the  mucous 
membrane  the  appearance  of  having  been  gnawed,  being  ragged 
and  irregular.  They  are  also  slightly  raised.  These  most  often 
appear  on  the  septum  of  the  nose,  and  may  be  situated  so  high  that 


228 


The  lloi.'si.;   I,^|)|■s^I;^■    i.\    Xkw    \'<)i;k   State 


Glanders  ok  Farcy  229 

they  cannot  be  seen  except  on  port-mortem-  examination.  Lesions 
of  the  nose  are  most  commonly  accompanied  by  enlargement  of  the 
submaxillary  glands  of  the  affected*  side.  On  post-morten  ex- 
amination the  lungs  are  found  affected,  almost  without  exception. 
Small  nodules  are  seen,  which  are  gray  to  grayish-white  and  firm, 
and  vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  mustard  seed  to  that  of  a  pea. 
JS'o  matter  how  the  glanders  germ  enters  the  body,  it  is  likely  to 
find  its  way  to  the  lungs  and  form  nodules,  which  are  by  far  the 
most  important  lesion  of  this  disease.  These  nodules  may  run  to- 
gether and  form  large  diseased  areas,  which  can  best  be  located  by 
paseing  the  lingers  over  the  lungs  with  gentle  pressure.  They  feel 
much  like  small  shot  under  the  fingers,  are  grayish-white  in  color, 
have  a  yellowish  center,  and  are  of  a  cheesy  consistency.  These 
enlargements  may  reach  the  size  of  a  walnut  and  project  from  the 
lung,  giving  it  a  nodular  appearance. 

Lesions  of  the  skin  consist  of  nodules,  commonly  called  farcy 
buds,  which  are  described  above.  White  or  grayish  nodules  of 
cheesy  consistency  and  varying  in  size  may  occur  in  the  liver  and 
spleen.  The  lymph  glands  are  often  affected,  showing  small 
grayish  or  yellowish  spots  on  the  cut  surface. 

DIAGNOSIS    OR   TESTS 

There  are  a  number  of  tests  for  the  detection  of  glanders,  but 
the  ophthalmic  or  eye  test  is  probably  the  most  desirable,  having 
the  advantage,  over  other  tests  of  ease  of  application.  This  test 
can  be  made  bv  any  competent  veterinarian.  The  results  are 
obtained  in  a  comparatively  short  time,  and  are  usually  well 
marked  and  definite.  Temperatures  need  not  be  taken,  and 
the  examiner  need  not  remain  in  constant  attendance.  Anyone 
familiar  with  the  subcutaneous  mallein  test  will  readily  appre- 
ciate the  simplicity  of  the  ophthalmic  test  method.  The  procedure 
consists  in  dropping  two  or  three  drops  of  ophthalmic  mallein 
inside  the  lower  lid  of  one  of  the  eyes.  It  may  be  put  in  with  an 
eye-dropper,  or  it  can  be  readily  applied  with  a  cameFs-hair 
brush.  The  reaction  begins  in  fi-om  five  to  six  hours  after  ap- 
plication, and  may  last  two  or  three  days.  The  best  time  to 
make  the  examination  of  the  eye  is  from  the  fourteenth  to  the 


230  TiiE  Horse  Industry  in  ]^ew  York  State 

eighteenth  hour  after  administration  of  the  mallein.  The  re- 
action depends  npon  the  araonnt  of  inHannnation,  discharge  and 
swelling  present  in  the  eye.  Healthy  horses  are  in  no  way 
affected.  The  suspicions  horses  can  be  retested  in  a  few  days, 
nsing  the  other  eye.  Tt  is  recommended  by  the  Bureau  of  Ani- 
mal Industry  that  the  results  be  reported  as  follows  i 

N.   Negative  —  Eye   unchanged. 

S.   Suspicious  —  Seromucous  discharge. 

Px.  Positive — Seromucous  discharge  with  purulent  flakes. 

Pxx.  Positive  —  Distinct  purulent  discharge. 

Pxxx,  Positive  —  Purulent  discharge  with  swelling  of  eyelids. 

Pxxxx.  Positive  —  Strong  purulent  discharge  with  swelling 
or  gluing  togetlier_of  both  lids. 

The  subcutaneous  mallein  test  is  similar  to  the  tuberculin  test 
in  cattle.  Two  or  three  preliminary  temperatures  are  taken ;  f rQm 
two  or  three  c.  c.  mallein  is  injected  in  the  side  of  the  neck; 
temperatures  are  resumed  at  the  eighth  hour  after  injection,  and 
continued  from  eighteen  to  twenty-four  hours.  In  glandered 
horses  there  is  usually  a  fever  reaction  as  in  tuberculous  cattle 
—  a  rise  from  two  to  four  degrees  or  higher,  and  sometimes  a 
pairiful  swelling  from  three  to  twelve  inches  in  diameter  appears 
at  the  point  of  injection.  There  is  often  a  marked  constitutional 
disturbance  or  physical  depression,  shown  by  loss  of  appetite, 
dullness  and  stiffness.  Should  these  all  be  present  it  would  be 
considered  a  characteristic  reaction. 

Cases  showing  a  profuse  discharge  from  the  nose,  with  ulcers 
and  enlarged  painless  swelling  of  the  glands  just  inside  the  lower 
jaw,  or  a  swollen  leg  with  a  chain  of  farcy  buds  or  ulcers  are 
easily  diagnosed.  There  are  other  cases,  however,  in  which  the 
symptoms  are  not  well  marked,  and,  since  the  symptoms  of  many 
diseases  closely  resembles  those  of  glanders,  it  is  doubly  difficult 
to  make  a  diagnosis  and  the  veterinarian  is  forced  to  make  use  of 
some  test. 

now    THE    DISEASE    IS    SPREAD 

It  was  formerly  believed  that  this  disease  was  spread  directly 
from  the  infected  to  the  healthy  animal,  but  it  has  been  found 
that  it  is  frequently  spread  by  contact  with  contaminated  objects. 


Glanders  or  Farcy 


231 


It  may  be  contracted  in  a  stable  where  glandered  horses  have  been 
kept.  Pnblic  watering  troughs  and  public  feeding  and  hitching 
letables  are  thus  important  in  the  spread  of  the  disease  in  districts 
where  it  is  prevalent.  It  is  probable  that  when  the  germs  of  the 
disease  gain  entrance  into  a  susceptible  animal,  thev  pass  to  the 
intestines  and  thence  to  the  blood,  and  may  lodge  in  the  capillaries 
of  the  lungs,  liver  or  other  organs.  When  the  germs  gain  en- 
trance into  the  body  of  the  slightly  susceptible  or  innnune  animal, 


J'iG.    79.     Siiowixc;    Reacttox    to   Optiialmic   Test 

AND    SWELLIXI;    ON    XecK    FROM    SUBCUTANEOUS    IN- 
JECTION 


they  may  be  destroyed;  but  when  introduced  into  a  highly  suscep-' 
tible  animal,  or  one  with  low  vitality,  the  disease  is  likely  to  be 
produced. 

It  is  believed  that  the  entrance  of  the  genns  into  the  alimen- 
tary tract  is  the  most  common  means  of  infection.  This  may 
occur  from  the  feed  and  water  becoming  contaminated  by  the  dis- 
charge  from   the  nose  or   farcv   ulcers.      Once  the  germs   have 


232  TriE  HoKSE  Industry  in  New  York  State 

gained  entrance  into  the  body  and  lodge  at  a  certain  point,  they 
begin  to  mnltiply,  and  the  strnggle  begins  between  the  organisms 
on  one  hand  and  the  tissues  on  the  otlier.  If  the  invading  organ- 
isms prove  the  stronger,  infection  takes  place,  and  the  result  is 
the  formation  of  a  glanders  nodule. 

METHOD  OF  HANDLING  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE 

In  a  reported  outbreak  of  glanders,  if  verified,  the  clearly  clin- 
ical cases  are  slaughtered,  and  the  mallein  test  applied  to  all 
exposed  or  contact  horses.  All  positive  reactors  are  slaughtered 
or  isolated.  Stables  are  thoroughly  cleaned  and  disinfected.  If 
it  is  not  possible  to  make  a  mallein  test  at  once,  the  common 
watering  trough  should  be  closed  and  an  individual  pail  fur- 
nished for  each  horse.  The  suspicious  and  contact  animals  show- 
ing negative  results  at  first  test  are  placed  under  provisional 
quarantine,  furnished  with  individual  pails,  the  same  to  be  used 
in  stable  and  on  road,  and  animals  held  for  further  retest  before 
being  released.  If  no  animals  react  at  the  second  test,  all  are 
released.  If  reactors  are  found  they  are  slaughtered  and  the 
stables  again  disinfected.  There  is  a  belief  that  only  those 
animals  showing  marked  clinical  symptoms  of  glanders,  as  pro- 
fuse nasal  discharge  or  farcy  buds,  are  capable  of  transmitting 
the  disease.  Such  cases  no  doubt  are  more  dangerous,  yet  many 
animals  showing  no  external  symptoms  may  be  affected  high  up 
in  the  nasal  tract  or  in  the  lungs,  and  still  be  capable  of  dis- 
tributing the  disease  to  healthy  animals.  These  cases  are  more 
dangerous  than  the  open  cases  which  can  be  seen  and  avoided. 

DISTRIBUTION 

Glanders  is  more  prevalent  in  large  cities  for  a  number  of  rea- 
sons. Public  drinking  troughs  and  hitching  and  feeding  stables, 
collecting  large  numbers  of  horses  together,  give  great  oppor- 
tunity for  its  spread.  The  stables  in  which  city  horses  are  kept 
are  often  insanitary,  with  insuflicient  light  and  air,  which  favors 
the  development  of  bacterial  life,  and  tends  to  lower  the  vitality 
of  the  animals.     This  makes  them  more  susceptible  to  the  disease. 


Glaxdeks  (h;  Farcy  233 

COXTKOL 

The  control  of  this  disease  requires  the  combined  action  of  the 
owner,  the  local  veterinarian  in  reporting  ontbreaks,  and  prompt 
action  on  the  part  of  state  officials.  Jnst  so  long  as  glanders  is 
as  prevalent  as  at  present,  it  is  verv  difficult  for  the  most  careful 
owner  of  horses  and  mules  to  fully  protect  himself  against  the 
disease.  Ghuiders  may  be  introduced  by  purchasing  animals 
suffering  from  the  malady  in  the  latent  or  hidden  stage,  or,  the 
horses  may  become  infected  from  the  public  driuking  troughs. 
Mangers  used  in  another  stable  where  badly  diseased  horses  have 
been  fed  or  watered,  may  be  the  source  of  infection.  When 
purchasing  additional  animals  to  replace  others,  they  should  be 
promptly  mallein-tested.  Ordinarily  there  is  but  little  danger 
in  purchasing  young  horses  from  country  districts,  but  it  is  not 
wise  to  purchase  old  horses  from  cities,  commonly  knowTi  as 
"  seconds,"'  unless  they  are  first  mallein-tested  by  a  competent 
veterinarian.  In  this  way  one  is  able  to  protect  the  rest  of  the 
horses  to  a  large  measure. 

DISIXFKCTIOX 

Before  disinfecting,  give  the  stable  a  thorough  cleaning.  The 
ceiling  and  walls  should  be  swept  free  of  cobwebs  and  dust,  and 
any  accumulation  of  rubbish  removed.  Decayed  wood  or  man- 
gers and  floors  should  also  be  removed.  All  filth  and  dirt  should 
be  scrubbed  from  the  woodwork,  etc.,  with  a  hot  soda  solution. 
All  manure  and  refuse  should  be  removed  and  buried  or  saturated 
with  some  good  disinfectant.  Any  of  the  better  disinfectants  can 
be  used  for  this  work,  but  probably  either  cresol  I".  S.  P.  in 
a  three-per-cent  solution,  or  carbolic  acid  five-per-cent  solution 
will  answer  as  w^ell  as  any  other.  The  former  can  be  prepared  by 
mixing  four  ounces  of  cresol  to  each  gallon  of  water,  the  latter 
by  adding  six  and  one-half  ounces  of  carbolic  acid  to  each  gallon 
of  water.     They  can  best  be  applied  with  a  spray  pump. 


DISEASES  OF  THE  LIMBS  AND  BONY  STRUCTURE 
Dr.  J.  F.  DeVine,  (joslieii,  X.  Y. 

Formerly  State  Veterinarian,  Now  'S'ork  State  Department  of  Auriciiltiirf 

The  horse,  more  than  any  other  of 
our  domesticated  animals,  shares  witli 
his  master  the  liability  to  accident  and  in- 
jur!:  ;  incident  to  civilized  life.  Today 
we  find  him  under  fire  on  the  battle  field ; 
tomorrow  he  is  exposed  to  mimberless 
mishaps  in  the  congested  streets;  even 
in  the  rural  districts  he  is  not  free  from 
dangers  in  giving  service  on  hard  roads 
or  tilling  the  soil  to  feed  mankind. 
The  purpose  of  this  article  is  to  classify  and  suggest  the  care 
and  treatment  of  some  of  the  most  common  accidents,  injuries  and 
nnsonndnesses  (either  hereditary  or  accidental)  that  are  met  with 
under  ordinary  conditions,  with  the  hope  of  lessening  the  suf- 
fering of  man's  faithful  servant,  and  mitigating  the  torturing 
quackery  that  still  obtains  in  some  communities. 


LAMENESS    MAY    COME    FKOM     IX.UKY    OR    HEREDITARY    WEAKNESS 

The  legs  and  feet  of  the  horse  are  important  organs,  both  in 
his  work  of  hatiling  heavy  loads  and  in  rapidly  conveying  his 
master  from  one  place  to  another.  As  a  consequence  of  this,  it 
is  generally  known  that  lameness  is  one  of  the  most  common  ail- 
ments of  the  horse.  In  some  cases  lameness  or  blemishes  are 
not  intimately  associated  with  ovei-work  or  abuse,  the  animal 
being  born  with  what  is  termed  a  hereditary  predisposition.  With 
this  predisposition  blemishes  and  unsoundnesses  develop  from 
very  slight  exciting  causes.  This  is  true  with  sidebones,  com- 
monly seen  in  the  heavy  horse,  and  it  is  equally  true  in  some 
cases  with  ringbones,  spavins,  curbs,  navicular  disease,  etc. 

[234] 


Diseases  of  the  Limbs  AT«fD  Boxy  Structukk  235 

KNOWLEDGE.     XOT     WiSDoM,     .XEEDKJ) 

It  is  not  the  thonght  of  the  writer  to  make  a  diagnostician  of. 
I'nyone  by  this  article,  but  the  article  will  not  have  been  written 
in  vain  if  we  are  successful  in  disabusing  some  of  the  ridiculous 
teachings  and  theories  that  have  been  forced  upon  the  public  for 
years  by  the  self-styled  "•  horse  doctor,"  and  the  doubly-wise  lay- 
man of  the  past.  Like  with  "hollow  horn"  and  ''wolf  in  the 
tail,"  we  have  much  to  undo  and  then  start  anew.  ' 

The  writer  has  often  thought  that  humane  societies  in  many  in- 
stances were  watching  the  mouse  and  letting  the  lion  run  ram- 
pant, when  we  have  been  repeatedly  called  to  see  the  poor  lame 
horse  that  had  been  lame  perhaps  for  weeks,  getting  no  better,  and 
rind  him  suffering  with  a  suppurating  corn  of  the  foot,  and  being 
tortured  by  a  rowel  in  his  shoulder  that  the  wise  "  quack  "  had 
placed  there,  knowing  of  course  at  once  without  making  any  ex- 
amination, that  the  ''  boss  was  lame  in  the  shoulder."  Similarly 
we  have  removed  nails  from  the  hind  foot  after  the  owner's  pa- 
lience  had  been  exhausted,  and  the  poor  animal's  whirlbone  or 
stifle  blistered  and  scarred  by  one  who  should  have  been  styled 
"  the  nuisance  of  the  neighborhood." 

Lameness  is  one  of  the  very  important  branches  of  veterinary 
science.  Obscure  lameness  is  one  of  the  most  difiicult  things  to 
locate  that  the  veterinarian  has  to  contend  with,  and  it  is  ridicu- 
lously absurd  for  one  not  skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  anatomy  and 
locomotion  to  think  of  making  an  accurate  diagnosis. 

We  appreciate  that  in  order  to  make  this  article  of  value  to 
its  readers,  a  methodical  review  of  the  extremities  laust  be  made. 
But  it  M^O'uld  be  well  to  preface  such  a  review  with  all  possible 
force  —  that  the  same  principles  apply  in  lameness  as  in  sick- 
ness. When  you  are  not  reasonably  certain  of  what  the  trouble 
is,  do  nothing ;  give  Is^ature,  the  goddess  of  all  medicine,  a  chance. 
If  you  must  do  something,  then  apply  simple  remedies,  such  as 
Jiot  or  cold  water,  poulticing  and  the  like.  Never  apply  blisters, 
burning  liniments,  or  similar  aggravating  things,  without  know- 
ing positively  that  they  are  necessary. 

Keep  in  mind  that  a  horse  is  less  liable  to  be  lame  in  the 
shoulder  than  below  the  knee ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  traditions 


236  The  House  IiNdustky  in  New  York  State 

that  have  bcoii  luinded  down,  horses  are  rarely  himc  in  the  whirl- 
bone  and  very  rarely  in  the  stille.  When  one  is  lame  in  the  stifle 
or  hip,  it  requires  a  skilled  man  to  know.  Any  oiie  may  guess, 
but  there  is  a  difference  between  guessing  and  knowing. 

The  extremities  are  made  up  of  bones,  muscles,  tendons,  liga- 
ments and  cartilages.  Where  bending  and  friction  occur,  Nature 
has  wisely  arranged  for  an  oiling  system,  and  hence  we  have 
articular  synovia  (joint  oil)  and  tendoiwus  synovia  (tendon  oil). 
These  are  yellowish,  oily  or  glary  secretions  which  facilitate  the 
play  of  the  joints,  and  the  tendons  over  the  joints  and  certain 
points  of  the  bones. 

There  are,  of  course,  other  minutiffi  concerning  the  arteries  and 
veins  which  nourish  the  parts,  and  the  nerve  system  which  sup- 
plies sensation  and  motion,  that  would  be  interesting  as  an  ab- 
stract study,  but  are  not  of  sufficient  practical  value  to  deserve 
space  here.  In  fact  the  nerve  system  of  the  extremities  would 
not  be  of  interest  to  the  layman  excepting  under  unusual  con- 
ditions, where  the  removal  of  a  section  of  a  nerve  would  relieve 
sensation  and  attendant  pain  or  inconvenience,  all  of  which  would 
require  the  advice  and  skill  of  a  trained  veterinarian. 

TREATMENT    OF     HEMORRHAGES 

The  blood  vessels  would  be  of  interest  principally  when  large 
enough  to  cause  a  dangerous  hemorrhage  occasioned  by  acci- 
dent. The  rule  in  all  such  cases  is  to  apply  something  clean  in 
the  way  of  cotton  or  cloth  to  the  wounded  parts  and  then  apply 
a  strong  bandage  over  this,  making  it  quite  tight  above  and  below 
the  injury  if  possible;  so  that  in  case  of  a  venous  hemmorrhage, 
the  bandage  or  part  of  the  bandage  on  the  side  farthest  from  the 
heart  would  be  controlled,  and  likewise  the  pressure  on  the  side 
of  the  wound  nearest  the  heart  would  control  arterial  hemor- 
rhage.    Never  use  cobwebs  or  dirty  material. 

If  it  is  impossible  to  bandage  the  parts,  as  is  sometimes  the  case 
when  the  injury  is  imder  the  shoulder  or  between  the  hind  legs, 
place  a  twitch  on  the  horse's  nose  so  as  to  make  him  stand  quiet, 
and  control  the  hemorrhage  until  help  is  obtained  by  holding 
cloths  or  cotton  tightly  against  the  wound.  After  the  animal  be- 
comes quiet  the  twitch  should  be  removed. 


Diseases  of  the  Limbs  and  Boxy  Structuke        237 

lamexess  of  the  joixts  axd  muscles 
The  preferable  way  to  review  the  accidents  and  ailments  oc- 
curring in  the  various  structures  of  the  extremities  would  be  to 
take  up  each  set  of  organs  separately  and  recite  the  various  path- 
ological conditions  met  with,  but  to  do  this  with  any  detail  would 
preclude  the  possibility  of  publishing  any  other  information  con- 
cerning the  horse,  in  a  medium-sized  bulletin.  A  physiological, 
histological  and  pathological  discourse  of  the  bony  structure  alone 
would  require  many  pages  of  dry  reading.  We  will,  therefore, 
content  ourselves  by  mentioning  the  symptoms  and  results  most 
commonly  associated  with  periositis  (inflammation  of  the  skin 
of  the  bone),  ostitis  ( inflammation  of  the  bone),  exostosis  (bony 
growth),  and  sprains  of  muscles,  tendons  and  ligaments. 

Perhaps  the  simplest  way  to  cover  the  structures  involved 
would  be  by  regional  discussions.  Let  us  begin  at  the  shoulder 
joint,  keeping  in  mind  that  we  have  all  the  structures  mentioned 
above  involved  at  this  joint.  Consequently  we  may  have  sprained 
muscles  or  ligaments  and  open  joint  (scientifically  known  as 
suppurative  synovitis)  cuts,  bruises,  etc.  Horses  ordinarily  are 
not  lame  above  this  joint  in  the  true  sense  of  lameness.  It  is  true 
that  an  animal  may  suffer  a  fracture  of  the  shoulder  blade  or  have 
a  deep-seated  abscess,  such  as  the  formation  of  a  fistulous  whither 
or  other  injuries  between  the  shoulder  blades,  but  there  is  no 
joint  at  the  top  of  the  shoulder  as  we  have  heard  some  describe, 
neither  does  the  shoulder  blade  play  any  important  part  in  loco- 
motion, simply  being  attached  to  the  anterior  sides  of  the  body  as 
a  mfeans  of  support. 

In  treating  lameness  or  injuries  of  the  shoulder,  when  it  is 
plainly  evident  that  the  shoulder  is  involved,  the  following  rule, 
which  applies  to  sprains  and  strains  generally,  should  be  followed: 
Bathe  the  parts  with  either  very  hot  or  very  cold  water ;  heat  when 
properly  applied  is  more  soothing  than  cold.  A  very  efficient  way 
of  applying  heat  to  the  shoulders  or  legs  is  by  what  the  horsemen 
term  "  steaming."  The  parts  are  bathed  with  very  hot  water, 
as  warm  as  the  hand  can  endure;  a  woolen  cloth  or  blanket  is 
wrung  out  of  water  equally  as  Avarm  and  this  is  covered  by  either 
a  rubber,  canvas  or  dry  blanket.  In  this  way  the  heat  is  forced 
into  deeper  structures,  and  is  very  soothing.  In  such  cases  a 
mild  liniment  applied  after  bathing  is  often  beneficial. 


238  TirE  HoK'SK  Industry  in  New  Yo];k  State 

The  foregoing  treatment  will  apply  to  the  elbow  joint,  but 
occasionally  we  have,  in  addition,  the  formation  of  cysts  at  the 
point  of  the  elbow,  which  is  known  as  "•  capped  elbow  "  or  "  shoe 
boil.''  This  condition  is  caused  either  by  the  animal  lying  on  its 
heel  calk  en-  by  biiiiipiiig  the  har(l  floor  with  its  elbow  when 
about  to  rise.  The  first  thing  to  do  is  to  remove  the  cause.  If 
we  cannot  remove  the  calk  or  the  hard  floor,  then  the  shoe  boil 
should  be  covered  with  a  thick  covering.  If  it  does  not  subside 
rapidly  with  hot  applications  in  three  or  four  days  it  should  be 
opened  and  properly  treated  by  a  competent  veterinarian  to  avoid 
the  formation  of  a  fibrous  tumor.  When  allowed  to  go  on  to  a 
fibrous  formation  the  growth  may  be  enucleated  by  surgical  in- 
terference. 

TROUBLES  WITH  THE  LEGS  AND  FEET 

The  forearm  is  not  so  commonly  predisposed  to  injuries  as  are 
the  parts  below  the  knee ;  but  in  the  thoroughbred,  the  trotter  and 
the  hunter  we  frequently  have  speedy-cuts  affecting  the  lower  ex- 
tremities of  the  forearm  and  involving  the  knee.  These  injuries 
are  more  generally  found  in  a  horse  used  for  speed  on  circular 
tracks.  Soothing  applications  are  of  great  value  in  these  cases. 
An  effective  way  is  to  use  the  hot  water  applications  in  the  day 
and  to  cover  the  parts  with  a  medicated  poultice,  such  as  anti- 
phlogistine,  during  the  night. 

Beginning  with  the  knee  and  hock,  the  horse  is  more  likely  to 
bony,  tendonous  and  ligamentous  trouble  in  the  lower  leg.  We 
will  consider  the  bony  ailments  first.  They  are  ordinarily  class- 
ified as  splints,  spavins,  ringbones  and  sidebones.  They  are  all 
practically  the  same  in  structure  —  differing  only  in  location  — 
being  the  result  of  an  inflammatory  process,  and  a  deposit  of  lime 
salts  very  similar  in  their  pathology  to  what  occurs  in  the  healing 
of  a  broken  bone,  with  a  primary  callous  and  a  permanent  thick- 
ening of  the  parts. 

Ringbones  are  by  far  the  most  serious,  owing  to  the  fact  that  they 
are  apt  to  involve  articulations,  and,  where  they  do,  ankylosis  or 
stiffening  of  the  joint  occurs,  resulting  in  a  more  or  less  perma- 
nent mechanical  interference  with  locomotion. 

The  same  treatment  is  applicable  to  all  these  conditions  in  the 
early  stages,  but  we  find  that  the  splints  yield  more  readily  to 


Diseases  of  the  Limbs  a^vd  Bony  Stkuctuke        239 

treatmeut  than  the  others,  and  ofteu  aii  ice  pack  applied  for  a  few 
days,  followed  by  a  mild  blister,  will  relieve  the  lameness  and 
absorb  the  splint  before  the  latter  becomes  truly  ossified. 

RingboiR's  and  sideboncs  are  not  so  amenable  to  treatment; 
they  are  rarely  absorbed  when  they  once  become  evident.  We 
.-honld  k(>ep  in  mind  first,  last,  and  always,  that  when  a  bony 
growth  lias  once  become  established,  snch  as  a  chi'onic  spavin  or 
splint,  it  is  j\ist  as  much  ti'ue  bono  as  the  limb  of  a  tree  is  part  of 


Fig.  so.     a  Xi;(;LECTr:i)  Cask  of  LY:MriiAX(;iTis 


the  tree,  and  we  should  never  countenance  the  argument  of  the 
fakir  who  tells  us  he  has  a  substance  or  mixture  that  will  remove 
it.  When  cold  a]:)pli('ations.  followed  by  blistering,  fail  to  give 
relief  in  the  case  of  spavins,  splints,  ringbones  and  sidebones,  a 
veterinarian  should  be  consulted  as  to  the  advisability  of  having 
the  parts  fired  with  a  pin-point  cautery. 

Injuries  and  accidents  to  the  feet  proper  are  extremely  common, 
and  early  attention  of  the  right  character  is  positively  essential. 


240  The  Hokse  Industry  in  New  Youk  State 

Hot  applications  in  the  way  of  hot  water  and  poultices,  with 
mild  but  eificient  antiseptics,  are  two  agents  to  be  kept  constantly 
in  mind.  To  be  effective,  the  antiseptics  must,  of  course,  reach 
the  injured  parts.  In  case  of  puncture  wounds  by  nails  or  other 
sharp  bodies,  the  hoof  should  be  softened  by  hot  applications  and 
pared  away  so  as  to  expose  the  affected  parts  for  treatment. 
Peroxide  of  hydrogen,  carbolic  acid,  iodine,  creolin,  etc.,  are 
reliable  agents,  the  necessary  strength  of  the  solution  being  de- 
termined by  the  case  in  hand. 

Corns  are  bruises  of  the  heels,  usually  due  to  neglect  of  shoeing 
or  bad  shoeing.  The  treatment  is  to  poultice  the  foot  and  pare 
away  the  heel  so  that  it  is  lower  than  the  frog.  Shoe  with  a 
bar  shoe  or  rubber  pad  and  repeat  this  treatment  every  three  or 
four  weeks  until  the  corns  have  disappeared. 

Laminitis,  or  founder,  is  an  inflammation  of  the  sensitive  struc- 
ture {lamina)  of  the  foot.  The  aniniars  front  feet  should  be 
bound  up  in  poultices  and  placed  in  a  tub  of  hot  water,  and  the 
services  of  a  veterinarian  secured  at  once. 

LYMPHANGITIS 

Lymphangitis  or  Monday  morning  leg,  is  an  affection  appearing 
suddenly  in  the  form  of  a  swelling,  usually  affecting  the  hind  leg. 
Like  laminitis  it  requires  early  attention.  Place  the  affected  leg 
in  a  tub  or  half-barrel,  and  bathe  it  constantly  with  water  as  hot 
as  the  hands  can  stand,  and  send  for  a  veterinarian.  Never  use 
turpentine,  liniments,  etc. 

In  lymphangitis,  as  in  laminitis,  a  veterinarian  can  accomplish 
more  in  relieving  the  suffering  of  the  poor  animal  and  restoring  it 
to  usefulness  the  ffrst  three  days  than  he  can  in  three  months 
after  the  animal  has  been  maltreated  or  neglected. 


DISTEMPER  AND   DISEASES   OF  THE  RESPIRATORY 

ORGANS 

Dr.  E.  L.  \^olgexau,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Before  entering  upon  a  discussion 
of  the  diseases  of  the  respiratory  ap- 
paratus, let  us  brietly  consider  which 
organs  or  parts  are  involved  in  the 
function  of  breathing. 

In  the  horse,  mouth-breathing  is 
verv  rarely  seen.  The  air  passes 
through  the  nostrils  into  the  nasal 
chambers  and  sinuses  in  the  head, 
where  it  is  slightly  warmed,  thence 
past  the  pharynx,  through  the  larynx,  which  is  situated  at  the  top 
of  the  trachea  or  windpipe.  The  windpipe,  in  turn,  divides  into 
the  bronchi,  of  Avhicli  there  are  two,  one  leading  to  each  lung. 
These  bronchi  are  divided  into  what  are  known  as  the  bronchial 
tubes,  which  penetrate  every  portion  of  the  lungs. 

The  entire  tract  is  lined  with  delicate  mucous  membrane,  which 
may  suffer  injury  from  many  causes,  giving  rise  to  the  various 
disorders  which  form  the  theme  of  this  paper.  Some  of  these 
causes  are :  cold  draughts  on  an  overheated  body ;  irritant  gases 
from  decomposing  manure;  hot,  badly  ventilated  stables;  over- 
work or  overexertion  when  the  animal  is  in  poor  condition ;  sudden 
change  of  climate  and  surroundings,  such  as  a  change  from  the 
farm  to  the  city ;  and  infection  from  cars  or  dealers'  stables. 


DISTEMPER 

This  is  an  infectious  disease,  usually  of  young  animals,  but  may 
aft"ect  horses  of  any  age.  One  attack  usually  renders  an  animal 
immune  to  future  attacks. 

Symptoms:  Fever,  diminished  appetite,  weakness,  rapid  pulse 
and  respiration,  redness  of  visible  mucous  membrane,  cough,  dis- 
charge from  the  nose  —  at  first  thin  and  watery,  later  becoming 
thicker,  yellowish  in  color  and  greatly  increased  in  quantity,  with 
swelling  of  the  submaxillary  glands,  due  to  abscess  formation. 
Sometimes  we  find  abscess  formations  in  other  superficial  glands, 
J6  f241] 


242  TiiK   ll()i;sK   Ia'j>usti;v  ix   X kw   \'oi;k  State 

and  occasionally,  in  the  more  malignant  form,  in  deep-seated 
lymphatics  and  in  internal  organs. 

Distemper  nsnally  runs  a  reasonably  regular  course  with  a  ten- 
dency to  recovery  with  comparatively  simple  treatment.  ]\Iild 
eases  require  nothing  further  than  a  mild  laxative  with  soft  feed, 
such  as  mashes  with  sliced  carrots,  apples  or  potatoes;  protection 
against  sudden  changes  in  temperature  by  blanketing  and  a  lib- 
eral allowance  of  drinking  water.  In  more  severe  cases  febri- 
fuges will  have  to  be  given.  One-half  ounce  doses  of  nitrate  of 
potash  and  epsom  salts  in  soft  feed,  or  in  the  drinking  water,  will 
be  found  of  marked  benefit. 

When  abscess  formation  is  taking  place,  warm  fomentations  or 
poultices  may  be  vised.  As  soon  as  fiuctnation  is  felt,  the  sup- 
purating glands  shonld  be  opened  at  the  most  dependent  part, 
curetted  and  washed  out  with  a  mild  antiseptic  solution,  followed 
by  the  injection  of  one-half  ounce  of  tincture  of  iodine  or  Lugol's 
Solution. 

A  rest  of  from  one  to  tw^o  weeks,  with  a  gradual  return  to  work 
will  prevent  relapse  or  complications.  The  complications  which 
may  occur  are  laryngitis,  pharyngitis,  severe  bronchitis  and  some- 
times pneumonia. 

Abscesses  may  form  in  the  brain,  media-stinum  or  abdominal 
cavity.  Roaring,  as  a  result  of  severe  inflammation  of  the  throat, 
is  occasionally  an  annoying  sequel.  Chronic  bronchial  cough  is 
a  frequent  complication  and  calls  for  special  treatment.  ^lost  of 
these  conditions  may  be  prevented  by  rational  treatment  during 
the  acute  attack,  and  the  protection  of  the  animal  against  draughts 
or  a  sudden  chilling  of  the  body. 

COKYZA     (COIJ)    IN    THE    IIEiU)) 

Coryza  is  inliammation  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  nose  and 
sinuses  of  the  head  and  eyes.  It  is  very  common  in  young,  green 
horses,  and  develops  shortly  after  their  arrival  after  having  under- 
gone the  ordeal  of  a  long  shipment  in  cars,  with  the  attendant  ex- 
posure en  route. 

Symptoms :  Sneezing,  fiery  red  condition  of  the  mucous  mem- 
branes (congestion),  discharge  from  nose  and  eyes,  slight  eleva- 
tion of  temperature,  with  partial  loss  of  appetite  and  general 
appearance  of  dullness.     While  coryza  in  itself  is  not  a  serious 


Diseases  of  the  Hesptuatoky  Ohcjans  243 

disease,  it  must  be  constautlv  borne  in  mind  that  if  impropei- 
treatment  is  given  or  the  condition  neglected,  there  may  be  an 
extension  of  the  inliammatory  process  to  the  sinuses  of  the  head, 
or  to  the  delicate  lining  membranes  of  the  throat,  bronchi  or  lungs. 
Many  people  believe  that  it  is  best  to  keep  an  animal  affected  with 
a  respiratory  disease  at  work ;  but  it  is  a  safe  rule  to  follow  that 
whenever  there  is  fever,  indicated  by  elevation  of  temperature, 
the  animal  should  be  kept  at  rest.  Fresh  air  and  sunlight  are  of 
great  importance  in  the  treatment  of  all  respiratory  affections,  but 
draughts  must  be  guarded  against. 

Treatment:  Laxative  diet.  Inhalations  of  steam,  slightly 
medicated  by  the  additiou  of  a  coal-tar  antiseptic  to  boiling  water, 
soothe  the  irritated  membrane,  and  are  always  of  benefit.  These 
inhalations  may  be  repeated  three  or  four  times  daily.  A^  run  at 
pasture  during  summer  months  will  aid  recovery.  During  the 
winter  the  animal  should  be  wannly  blanketed  and  given  a  well- 
ventilated  box  stall. 

Medical  treatment  should  be  of  the  simplest  kind.  The  pow- 
ders advised  for  the  treatment  of  distemper  may  be  given  in  the 
drinking  water  to  stimulate  the  action  of  the  kidneys  and  bowels. 
If  this  treatment  is  followed,  the  discharge  from  the  nose  should 
uraduallv  disappear,  and  the  animal  entirely  recover.  Sometimes, 
however,"^  the  nasal  discharge  instead  of  drying  up  becomes 
thicker  and  obstinately  continues.  We  then  speak  of  the  condi- 
tion as  chronic  catarrh  or  nasal  gleet. 

CHRONIC    CATARRH    OR    XASAL    GLEET 

This  is  verv  apt  to  occur  as  a  result  of  exposure  or  overwork 
while  the  horse  has  been  suffering  from  common  cold.  There  are 
many  other  conditions  which  may  have  as  a  symptom  a  chronic 
discharge  from  the  nose,  some  of  which  are:  decayed  teeth,  pus 
in  the  sinuses,  disease  of  the  turbinated  bones  and  glanders.  A 
chronic  nasal  discharge  is  always  a  cause  for  suspicion,  and  a 
veterinarian  should  be  called  in  to  make  the  diagnosis  and  advise 

treatment. 

The  treatment  will  depend  upon  the  cause.  If  due  to  a  dis- 
eased molar,  the  offending  tooth  should  be  extracted.  Tus  m  the 
sinuses  must  be  treated  by  trephining  and  irrigation.  In  fact, 
the  cause  must  first  be  discovered  and  removed  before  much  prog- 
ress will  be  made  in  treatment.     Tonics  are  always  indicated, 


244  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

either  vegetable  or  mineral.  Fowler's  Solution  in  one-ounce 
dosage  twice  daily  is  a  convenient  mode  of  administering  arsenic, 
which  is  a  drug  of  great  value  in  this  condition.  It  will,  however' 
as  a  rule  be  wise  to  consult  a  competent  veterinarian  rather  than 
attempt  to  treat  chronic  catarrh  empirically. 

OBSTkUCTIONS   IN   THE   NOSE 

These  may  be  due  to  polypus  or  tumors  of  the  lining  mem- 
brane, thickening  of  the  lining  membrane  itself,  or  disease  of  the 
turbinated  bones,  due  to  injury  from  either  external  or  internal 
causes.  All  these  conditions  call  for  surgical  treatment,  so  are 
simply  enumerated  as  factors  in  the  diseases  of  the  respiratory 
apparatus. 

INFLAMMATION  OF  THE  LARYNX  AND  PHARYNX LARYNGITIS  AND 

PHARYNGITIS 

These  conditions  are  described  together  because  the  parts  are 
closely  adjacent,  and  inflammation  of  the  one  is  usually  accom- 
panied or  complicated  by  involvement  of  the  other. 

Symptoms:  Difiiculty  in  swallowing,  fever,  increased  respira- 
tion, soreness  on  pressure,  cough,  redness  of  visible  mucous  mem- 
brane and  discharge  from  nose.  If  the  pharynx  is  involved,  it 
will  be  noticed  that,  when  the  animal  is  drinking  a  portion  of  the 
water  is  returned  through  the  nose.  The  appetite  is  usually 
fairly  good;  but  the  pains  caused  by  attempts  to  swallow  fre- 
quently deter  the  animal  from  eating  very  much. 

Treatment:  Feed  light,  easily  digested  food,  such  as  bran 
mashes,  scalded  oats,  oatmeal  gruel  or  grass  in  season.  Cover 
with  a  warm  blanket,  bandage  the  legs  to  equalize  circulation, 
apply  liniment  to  the  throat  once  or  twice  daily,  steam  out  nos- 
trils and  head  as  advised  for  sore  throat,  and  give  every  two  to 
four  hours,  in  one-ounce  doses,  a  fever  mixture  composed  of  equal 
parts  of  tincture  belhidonna,  tincture  cinchona,  sweet  spirits  of 
nitre  and  acetate  of  annnonia.  The  application  of  a  hot  kaolin 
poultice  to  the  throat,  well  covered  by  cotton  and  bandage  to  re- 
tain heat,  frequently  gives  prompt  relief. 

If  breathing  becomes  very  difficult  due  to  swelling  in  throat, 
tracheotomy  will  have  to  be  resorted  to ;  but  this  again  is  an  oper- 
ation which  should  not  be  attempted  by  a  layman. 


Diseases  of  the  Respiratoky  Organs  245 

The  clirouic  cough  which  sometimes  persistently  remains  after 
the  acute  symptoms  have  subsided  may  be  treated  by  cough  mix- 
tures, or,  if  these  fail,  by  iodide  of  potassium  in  one  drachm  doses, 
ihree  times  daily  in  the  drinking  water,  one  hour  before  feeding. 
A  blistering  ointment  composed  of  biniodide  of  mercury,  one 
drachm,  and  vaseline  one  ounce,  may  also  be  rubbed  into  the 
swollen  glands  and  throat.  This  must  be  used  with  caution, 
however,  as  it  will  blister  quite  severely. 

ROARIXG 

Roaring  is  caused  by  some  obstruction  to  the  free  passage  of 
air.  It  occurs  usually  as  a  complication  of  one  of  the  respiratory 
disorders.  If  due  to  sore  throat,  the  noisy  breathing  will  disap- 
pear promptly  after  the  cause  has  been  removed.  The  noise 
usually  accompanies  the  inspiration,  when  the  air  is  drawn  into 
the  lungs,  and  only  in  advanced  cases  is  it  heard  when  the  air  is 
expelled. 

The  only  treatment  which  appears  to  hold  out  any  hope  of  cure 
in  a  chronic  roarer  is  an  operation  for  tbe  removal  of  the  lining 
membrane  of  two  little  sacs  called  the  ventricles,  situated  above 
and  behind  the  vocal  cords.  This  is  an  operation  of  great  deli- 
cacy, and  should  be  attempted  only  by  an  expert. 

BROXCIIITIS  INFLAMMATIOX    OF    THE    BRONCHI 

This  occurs  in  two  forms  —  acute  and  chronic.  The  latter 
may  follow  the  acute  fonn,  or  chronic  bronchitis  may  develop  into 
the  acute  fonn. 

The  symptoms  are:  fever;  short,  dry,  smothered  and  painful 
cough  in  the  early  stages,  which  later  has  a  tendency  to  become 
moist,  due  to  exudation ;  wheezing  or  whistling  sounds,  detecta- 
ble when  the  ear  is  placed  over  the  trachea  and  sides  of  the  chest. 
When  exudation  has  taken  place,  there  are  heard  what  are  known 
as  moist  rales  (giirgling  sounds  which  can  be  heard  very  dis- 
tinctly over  the  trachea).  There  is  always  dullness,  increased 
respiration  and  pulse,  with  partial  or  complete  loss  of  appetite. 
It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  differentiate  between  bronchitis  and 
pneumonia,  as  a  severe  attack  of  the  former  is  frequently  com- 
plicated by  involvement  of  the  lung  tissue. 


246  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

The  treatment  of  bronchitis  is  not  radically  different  from  that 
of  other  diseases  of  the  respirjitorv  apparatus  —  that  is  to  say, 
rest;  fresh  air;  hviiienic  siu'roinidiiiiis ;  l»hniketiiii>-  to  protect  the 
animal  from  dranaht  and  sndden  clianoc  in  toni|)eratnre ;  liijht, 
easily  digested  food,  and  a  lil)eral  supply  of  clean  drinkino-  water, 
which  may  be  kept  constantly  before  the  animal  in  a  pail  set  in 
the  manger. 

As  medicinal  treatment,  the  fever  mixture  prescribed  for  laryn- 
gitis, continued  as  long  as  the  temperature  remains  above  nor- 
mal, should  be  given  with  half-ounce  doses  of  nitrate  of  potash 
three  times  daily  in  the  drinking  water.  As  an  alterative  and 
Tonic,  Fowler's  Solution  in  ounce  doses  two  or  three  times  daily 
will  be  found  of  marked  benefit.  This  may  be  given  in  the  drink- 
ing water  if  prepared  without  the  addition  of  lavender.  Counter 
irritation  in  the  form  of  mustard  paste  applied  to  the  chest  and 
covered  with  newspapers  to  protect  soiling  of  the  blanket,  may 
be  given  in  many  cases ;  but  severe  blistering  should  be  avoided, 
as  the  pain  and  inconvenience  suffered  as  a  result  of  drastic 
measures  more  than  counteract  the  beneficial  effects  derived 
therefrom.  Thorough  daily  grooming  of  the  body,  and  friction 
applied  to  the  leg;s,  with  bandages  to  equalize  the  circulation,  fre- 
{piently  have  a  marked  effect  upon  the  temperature  and  general 
condition  of  the  animal. 

When  the  appetite  is  capricious,  an  effort  should  be  made  to 
stimulate  the  desire  for  food  by  giving  the  animal  two  or  three 
apples,  carrots,  two  or  three  ears  of  corn,  steamed  or  scalded 
oats,  or  oatmeal  gruel. 

The  return  to  work  should  be  gradual,  since  the  animal  has 
been  suffering  from  a  debilitating  disease  and  overexertion  or 
exposure  may  lead  to  serious  lung  involvement. 

congestiox  of  the  luxgs 
By  congestion  is  meant  an  increased  flow  of  blood  to  the  parts. 
This  is  usually  induced  in  the  horse  either  by  exhaustion  in  an 
animal  which  has  not  been  accustomed  to  hard  work,  or  by  a  sud- 
den chilling  of  the  surface  of  the  body  when  the  animal  is  heated. 
Hard  or  fast  work  means  increased  functional   activity,  and  a 


DisEAHKs  OF  THE   Respiratoky  Organs  247 

great  portion  of  the  strain  indneed  by  overexertion  devolves  upon 
the  lungs,  which  are  the  essential  organs  of  respiration. 

It  can  be  readily  understood  that,  when  an  animal  is  perspiring 
and  the  pores  of  the  skin  are  open,  the  capillary  blood  vessels  are 
engorged.  If  such  an  animal  is  rapidly  cooled  off,  the  pores  close, 
the  capillaries  and  blood  vessels  contract,  and  the  blood  is  forced 
in  increased  volume  to  some  internal  organ.  This  may  produce 
congestion  of  any  internal  organ  ;  but,  in  an  animal  which  has 
done  hard  and  fast  work,  it  is  most  apt  to  cause  congestion  of 
either  the  lungs  or  laminse  of  the  feet  (founder). 

The  symptoms  are  usually  first  oliservcd  after  the  animal  has 
been  returned  to  the  stable,  and  are  ushered  in  by  a  fit  of  trem- 
bling (chill).  If  this  passes  by  unnoticed,  the  attention  of  the 
o^\^ler  will  probably  first  be  attracted  by  difficult  and  rapid  breath- 
ing. If  the  temperature  of  the  horse  is  taken  at  this  time  the 
thermometer  will  register  between  lOi  and  106  degrees.  In  the 
early  stages  the  body  is  covered  with  perspiration,  which  may, 
however,  soon  evaporate,  leaving  the  body,  legs  and  ears  cold. 
The  pulse  is  full  and  hard,  and  may  vary  from  80  to  110  per 
minute.  If  the  hand  is  placed  on  the  left  side  of  the  chest,  the 
heart  will  be  found  to  be  beating  violently.  Upon  placing  the 
ear  to  the  side  of  the  chest,  a  fine  crackling  sound  will  be  heard, 
with  marked  increase  of  the  respiratory  murmur. 

Treatment:  In  the  early  stages,  the  first  effort  should  be  di- 
rected toward  a  renewal  of  functional  activity  of  the  skin.  If  the 
animal  is  perspiring  he  should  be  rubbed  dry  with  wisps  of  hay  or 
straw  and  immediately  blanketed.  If  the  weather  is  warm,  the 
verv^  best  place  for  him  is  out  in  the  open,  where  plenty  of  pure 
air  can  be  obtained.  The  legs  should  be  well  rubbed  with  the 
hand,  or  mild  liniment  applied,  and  then  bandaged.  Stimulants 
in  the  form  of  alcohol,  v/hisky,  brandy  or  aromatic  spirits  of  am- 
monia well  diluted  should  be  given  at  frequent  intervals  until 
relief  is  obtained.  A  one-ounce  capsule  of  acetanilid  may  be 
given  by  month,  and  repeated  in  tweh'e  hours  if  the  temperature 
remains  very  high.  Treatment,  to  be  of  avail,  must  be  promptly, 
energetically  and  intelligently  carried  out,  as  it  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  condition  described  is  the  first  stage  of  inflamma- 
tion, and,  if  neglected,  will  terminate  in  pneimionia. 


248  IIoKSE  1  xitrsTUY  i.\   Xkw  \'()i;k  State 

r.NEL'MOMA 

Pneumonia  is  an  inflammation  of  the  lungs.  Two  foiTQS  are 
ordinarily  recognized  as  occurring  in  horses,  namely,  catarrhal 
or  bronchial  pneumonia,  and  fibrinous  or  croupous  pneumonia. 
The  distinction  between  these  two  forms  of  inflammation  de- 
pends upon  the  character  of  the  exudate.  In  the  first  form,  the 
exudate  is  of  a  catarrhal  nature,  and  in  the  second  fonn  the 
fibrin  of  the  blood  exudes  through  the  injured  blood  vessels,  co- 
agulates and  plugs  the  air  cells  and  bronchioles,  causing  solidi- 
fication of  the  lungs.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  lungs  removed 
from  an  animal  suffering  from  croupous  pneumonia  will  not 
float,  the  affected  portion  being  of  the  consistency  and  general 
appearance  of  liver. 

The  early  symptoms  of  pneumonia  are  those  described  luider 
congestion  of  the  lungs,  this  stage  being  known  as  engorgement. 
Several  distinct  stages  of  the  disease  are  recognized  and  described 
as :  red  hepatization,  at  which  time  the  lungs  have  the  appearance 
of  liver ;  gray  hepatization,  which  is  the  later  stage  when  resolu- 
tion or  breaking  down  of  the  exudate  takes  place  and  recovery  is 
about  to  ensue,  and  the  last  stage  known  as  the  period  of  resolu- 
tion when  the  expectoration  and  reabsorption  of  the  broken  down 
exudate  is  well  established. 

Symptoms :  During  the  period  of  congestion  and  engorgement, 
the  s\miptoms  differ  in  no  respect  from  those  described  under 
congestion  of  the  lungs,  as  this  is  really  the  first  stage  of  pneu- 
monia. During  the  stages  known  as  red  and  gray  hepatization, 
there  are  symptoms  of  suffocation,  difficult  breathing,  cough,  ele- 
vation of  temperature,  partial  or  complete  loss  of  appetite  and 
evidence  of  great  weakness  and  prostration.  The  animal  usually 
remains  standing  throughout  the  entire  time.  If  he  lies  down  at 
all,  it  is  always  on  the  affected  side,  the  purpose  of  this  very  evi- 
dently being  to  afford  more  breathing  space  on  the  healthy  side. 
When  both  lungs  are  involved  the  condition  is  much  more  seri- 
ous and  results  are  frequently  fatal.  The  lung  usually  fills  up 
from  the  bottom,  the  anterior  or  posterior  lobes  being  first  af- 
fected. If  the  chest  is  tapped  with  the  fingers  a  dull  sound  is 
heard,  with  increased  resonance  over  the  healthy  portion  of  the 
lung.  The  respiratory  murmur  is  very  much  diminished,  or 
altogether  absent  in  the  consolidated  portion. 


Diseases  of  the  Kespikatouy  Ok(;axs  249 

When  the  inflammatory  exudate  breaks  down,  mucous  rales  are 
heard.  As  a  rule,  the  pleura  or  covering  membrane  of  the  lung, 
and  lining  membrane  of  the  chest,  are  also  involved,  the  condition 
then  being  known  as  pleuropneumonia.  With  pleurisy  as  a  com- 
plication, there  is  usually  a  straw-colored  fluid  thrown  out  into 
the  pleural  sac,  known  as  pleuritic  fluid,  and  this  fluid  is  found 
on  bo-th  sides  of  the  chest  at  the  same  level,  whether  only  one  or 
both  sides  of  the  lungs  are  involved. 

The  treatment  will  depend  wpon  the  stage  at  which  the  disease 
is  first  seen  and  the  severity  of  the  attack.  In  the  stage  of  en- 
gorgement, efl^orts  should  be  directed  toward  aborting  the  disease 
if  possible ;  but  frequently,  in  spite  of  every  eflort,  the  disease 
cannot  be  stopped  at  this  stage.  It  imperceptibly  goes  on  to  the 
stage  of  inflammation  which  is  the  cause  of  the  exudate ;  this  in 
turn  causes  the  consolidation  of  the  lung  tissue.  This  exudate 
must  be  broken  up  and  either  discharged  from  the  nose  or  coughed 
up,  what  remains  being  reabsorbed.  This  reabsorption,  however, 
never  takes  place  completely,  and  usually  leaves  traces  of  the 
disease  in  the  form  of  consolidated  areas,  new  tissue  formations 
and  adhesions. 

Pneumonia  is  a  disease  which  requires  very  careful  nursing. 
The  animal  should  be  placed  in  the  cleanest  and  airiest  quarters 
procurable,  as  it  will  be  found  that  horses  suffering  from  pneu- 
monia, particularly  in  the  early  stages,  usually  stand  with  their 
heads  toward  the  air.  The  food  should  l)e  light  and  easily  di- 
gestible; the  water  supply  clean,  fresh  and  frequently  renewed. 
The  body  should  be  covered  with  a  blanket  of  texture  suitable  to 
the  season,  in  order  to  protect  the  surface  o.f  the  body  against 
sudden  draughts  or  chills.  The  legs  wnll  be  found  to  be  cold 
below  the  knees  and  hocks,  and  should  therefore  be  rubbed  with 
liniment  about  once  a  day  and  covered  with  woolen  bandages 
evenly  applied,  in  order  to  equalize  the  circulation.  The  body 
should  be  carefully  groomed  daily  in  order  to  keep  up  elimination 
from  the  skin. 

Salines  in  the  drinking  water,  in  half-  to  one-ounce  doses, 
markedly  stimulate  the  kidneys  and  favor  elimination.  While  it 
is  not  advisable  to  give  an  animal  suffering  from  pneumonia 
drastic  cathartics,  a  half  dose  of  cathartic  medicine  is  frequently 
indicated,  and  helps  to  remove  toxic  materials  from  the  bowels. 


250  'J' HE  HoKSE  Industry  in  New  York  State 

Following  the  giving  of  a  cathartic,  much  benefit  is  derived  from 
the  use  of  intestinal  antiseptics,  among  which  the  compound 
sulphocarholates  have  served  me  best, 

The  fever  mixture,  for  which  the  formula  is  mentioned  under 
laryngitis,  can  be  given  throughout  the  attack,  the  period  being 
graduated  according  to  the  temperature.  In  the  early  stages, 
while  the  fever  runs  very  high,  it  may  be  given  as  often  as  every 
hour  or  two,  day  and  night. 

Liniments  applied  to  the  chest  are  of  value,  ])ut  the  use  of 
strong  vesicants  should  be  avoided.  Mustard  pastes  are  fre- 
quently applied  and  are  of  undoubted  value  in  many  cases. 
Within  recent  years,  bacterins,  which  are  prepared  from  killed 
bacteria  of  the  kind  usually  found  present  in  pneumonia,  sus- 
pended in  saline  solution,  are  given  hypodermically  in  the  treat- 
ment of  this  condition,  but  their  use  at  present  is  contined  to 
veterinarians. 

Recovery  in  uncomplicated  cases  usually  takes  place  in  about 

two  weeks,  after  which  the  animal  may  be  given  walking  exer- 
cise if  the  temperature  is  nearly  normal ;  but  work  should  be  very 
gradually  resumed  and  be  of  a  character  suited  to  the  weakened 
condition  of  the  animal,  as  relapses  are  frequent  and  may  prove 
fatal  if  care  is  not  taken  in  this  regard.  In  fatal  cases,  abscess 
formation  and  gangrene  sometimes  occur.  In  gangrene  of  the 
lungs,  the  inflammation  has  been  severe  enough  to  cause  the  death 
of  a  portion  of  lung  tissue  which  sloughs  away,  imparting 
a  highly  offensive  odor  to  the  breath  and  a  characteristic  greenish 
discharge  from  the  nose.  This  condition  invariably  terminates 
fatally. 

In  closing  this  article  on  respiratory  diseases,  the  writer  is  well 
aware  that  he  has  only  superficially  touched  iipon  the  various 
affections  usually  classed  with  the  disorders  of  this  apparatus. 
It  is  not  intended  to  furnish  complete  information  to.  enable  the 
layman  to  treat  the  more  serious  affections  described ;  but  is  sub- 
mitted with  the  hope  that  something  therein  contained  may  be 
of  service,  and  coaitribute  in  a  small  way  toward  a  better  under- 
standing of  these  common  affections  of  the  horse. 


COLIC  AND  AZATUREA 

I)K.  M.  Hamilton,  Delhi.  X.  V. 
Veterinarian   and   Farmers'   Institute  Lecturer 

COLIC 

Colic  is  a  general  term  often  applied  to  all  affections  of  the 
digestive  apparatns.  It  is  always  accompanied  by  pain,  which 
mav  he  jnst  no.ticeahle,  moderate,  or  very  intense.  It  is  a  very 
convenient  term  for  the  veterinarian,  for  he  considers  his  diag- 
nosis correct,  he  the  tronble  in  the  stomach,  ca'cnm,  or  small 
or  large  intestines.  \^eterinary  writers,  however,  describe  a  num- 
ber of  kinds  of  colic,  but  a  discussion  of  each  in  an  article  of  this 
kind  would  be  far  too  complicated  for  the  average  layman. 

The  horse  seems  to  be  predisposed  to  this  disease.  In  his 
natural  state  he  ate  often  and  in  small  quantities,  so  that  his 
oroans  were  never  overloaded ;  and,  through  the  ages  of  evolution, 
his  digestive  apparatus  gradually  adapted  itself  to  that  condition. 
Xot  manv  centuries  ago  man  discovered  that  the  horse  could  be 
made  a  useftd  beast  of  burdeu,  consequently  his  environment  was 
changed.  Instead  of  roaming  the  fields  and  partaking  of  his 
food  at  pleasure  he  has  been  forced  to  feed  less  often  and  in 
larger  amounts. 

Causes  of  Colic 

Anything  that  arrests  or  suspends  digestion  may  cause  colic. 
The  causes  may  be  divided  under  two  general  headings: 

1.  A  diseased  or  disturbed  condition  of  the  animal's  digestive 
apparatus  so  that  he  cannot  properly  digest  the  food  that  is  given 
him,  be  it  ever  so  wholesome. 

2.  Anything  that  renders  the  food  difficult  of  digestion;  as, 
for  example,  nuisty  or  moldy  feed. 

Several  factors  may  be  included  under  the  first  heading : 
(a)  Poor  teeth,  long  teeth  or  teeth  with  long  corners  that  cut 
o.r  lacerate  the  cheek  and  tongue,  induce  the  horse  to  swallow  his 
food  with  as  little  chewing  as  possible.  This  leaves  the  food  in 
such  hard  masses  that  it  is  rendered  less  capable  of  being 
thoroughly  acted  upon  by  the  digestive  juices. 

[251] 


252  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

(b)  Ice-cold  water  and  apples,  potatoes,  roots  or  ensilage  that 
are  frozen,  may  suddenly  chill  the  stomach  and  intestines,  and 
canse  a  suppression  of  the  juices, 

(c)  Extreme  fatigiie  or  exhaustion,  especially  after  a  very 
hard  day's  work,  reduces  the  power  of  the  digestive  organs.  There- 
fore a  very  tired  horse  should  never  he  fed  his  grain  at  night  until 
he  is  partially  rested.  Let  him  eat  hay  for  a  couple  of  hours,  and, 
instead  of  making  him  a  present  of  an  extra  quart  or  two  of  oats 
for  his  hard  day's  work,  give  a  little  less  than  the  usual  amount. 

(d)  Fast  driving  and  very  heavy  hauling  immediately  follow- 
ing a  meal  often  impedes  digestion. 

(e)  Ravenous  eaters  that  bolt  their  food  render  the  food  in 
about  the  same  condition  as  a  horse  with  imperfect  teeth. 

(f)  Irregular  feeding  hours.  A  horse  can  tell  almost  to  the 
minute  when  feeding  time  arrives.  If  feeding  is  deferred  for  an 
hour  or  two  hours  he  becomes  uneasy  and  often  paws  and  neighs 
for  his  food,  thereby  causing  a  general  disturbance  of  the  entire 
body. 

(g)  Sudden  changes  in  food.  We  always  have  more  cases  of 
colic  at  haying  and  threshing  time,  when  farmers  are  changing 
from  the  old  to  the  new  hay  and  from  the  old  to  the  new  oats. 
We  should  always  make  changes  in  the  ration  gradually  by  mix- 
ing a  small  amount  of  the  now  oats  and  hay  with  the  old.  If 
obliged  to  make  a  sudden  change  in  the  ration  better  give  a 
smaller  amount  and  add  a  pinch  of  salt.  The  salt  greatly  aids  in 
checking  fermentation  and,  at  the  same  time,  slightly  increases 
the  secretions. 

Under  the  second  heading  we  may  include  foods  that  are  hard 
to  digest,  or  that  do.  not  seem  to  be  especially  adapted  for  the 
horse  when  fed  in  large  (quantities,  such  as  rye,  barley,  buckwheat 
and  beans.  Over-ripe,  coarse  fodders  and  musty,  moldy  or  par- 
tially spoiled  fodders  of  any  description  are  especially  dangerous 
for  horses.     Musty  or  moldy  ensilage  is  very  dangerous. 

Green  foods,  as  clover  and  alfalfa,  and  foods  recently  harvested, 
such  as  new  oats,  corn  and  hay,  are  covered  with  bacterial  growth 
that  causes  a  rapid  fermentation.  If  taken  in  large  quantities 
when  a  horse  is  not  accustomed  to  them  they  prove  a  very  fre- 
quent cause  of  colic.  Wet  ground  feed  that  has  been  left  from 
a  preceding  meal,  if  allowed  to  remain  in  the  feed  box,  soon 


Colic  and  Azaturea  253 

sours  and  proves  a  source  of  o-'-eat  flan,2;er.  Overfeeding  mav 
cause  colic,  as  when  a  horse  is  accidentally  fed  twice  or  gets  loose 
and  finds  the  grain  l)in. 

A  large  drink  of  water  immediately  after  eating  may  canse 
colic.  The  stomach  of  the  horse  is  so  small  (holding  only  six  or 
seven  gallons),  that  a  large  amount  of  water  is  apt  to  flush  out 
some  of  the  food  into  the  intestines  before  it  has  been  acted  upon 
by  the  gastric  juice.  The  system  of  the  horse  can  ordinarily 
adapt  itself  to  almost  any  condition,  and  many  farmers  let  their 
horses  have  practically  all  their  drinking  water  after  eating,  and 
yet  they  seldom  have  a  case  of  colic.  I  believe,  however,  that 
many  cases  of  colic  are  due  to  drinking  too  much  water  soon  after 
eating.  Do  not  scrimp  your  horses  on  water ;  give  it  often  and 
in  small  amounts. 

I  believe  if  we  could  divide  colics  under  the  following  three 
general  classifications  as  to  kind,  we  could  diagnose  our  cases  with 
a  fair  degTee  of  accuracy,  and  in  that  way  intelligently  treat  and 
prevent  a  much  larger  proportion  of  them  : 

1.  Excess  of  gas  in  the  digestive  tract. 

a.  Acute  indigestion  is  the  name  applied  if  the  fermenting 
mass  is  confined  principally  within  the  stomach. 

b.  Flatulent  colic  is  the  name  applied  when  the  fermenting 
mass  has  passed  along  into  the  intestines. 

2.  Excess  of  partly  digested  food  and  fecal  matter  in  the  di- 
gestive tract.  This  condition  is  often  called  impaction  or  ob- 
struction colic,  or  constipation  or  stoppage  of  the  bowels. 

3.  Conditions  which  interfere  with  the  nervous  mechanism  of 
the  digestive  tract.  This  condition  is  designated  as  spasmodic  or 
cramp  colic. 

In  order  to  treat  a  case  of  colic  intelligently  we  should  be 
able  to  distinguish  with  a  fair  degree  of  accuracy  which  one  of 
these  conditions  we  are  dealing  with.  It  frequently  happens  that 
two,  or  possibly  all  three  conditions  are  operating  at  the  same 
time. 

Excess  of  Gas  in  the  Digestive  Tract 

This  is  by  far  the  most  common  and  fatal  of  all  colics  with 
which  the  horse  is  affected.  I  believe  that  in  the  country  more 
horses  die  directly  or  indirectly  from  this  form  of  colic  than 
from  all  others  combined. 


254  The  Hoksk  rxnusniY  i.\   New  York  State 

Si/iii]>loiiis.  'Dip  ])aiii  is  coiitimions,  thouuli  more  at  one  time 
than  at  another.  IJloatinii-  is  the  characteristic  symptom.  If  the 
intestines  are  the  principal  part  infected  (tlatukMit  colic),  the 
hloatini*'  is  verv  prononnced,  especially  on  the  rii>'ht  side.  AVhen 
the  stomach  (acnte  indig'estion)  is  the  essential  seat  of  the  tronhle, 
it  is  greatly  over-distended  with  gas  and  the  fermenting  mass  of 
food.  Yet  on  acconnt  of  its  distance  from  the  ahdominal  wall, 
and  being  incased  on  each  side  of  the  ribs,  it  hardly  ever  shows 
from  the  ontside. 

Unless  a  person  is  somewhat  familiar  with  acnte  indigestion  it 
is  sometimes  rather  hard  to  diagnose.  Usnally  acnte  indigestion 
occurs  soon  after  partaking  of  a  fnll  meal.  It  is  sndden  in  its 
onset  and  gradually  grows  worse.  As  the  over-distended  stomach 
is  in  close  contact  M'ith  the  Inngs,  breathing  is  greatly  inter- 
fered with,  so  the  horse  often  sits  on  its  hannches  lihe  a  dog.  The 
nostrils  are  greatly  dilated  to  facilitate  breathing.  Occasionally 
he  will  make  desperate  efforts  to  vomit.  Since  the  stomach  of 
the  horse  mnst  be  stretched  to  a  dangerons  condition  before  he 
can  vomit,  we  always  regard  vomiting  in  a  horse  as  a  sign  of 
rnptnred  stomach.  If  vomiting  of  the  stomach  occurs  without 
rnptnre  it  affords  great  relief.  As  the  disease  progresses  the 
abdomen  enlarges,  due  to  the  stomach  forcing  the  other  organs 
backward  and  also  dne  to  the  disturbance  in  the  intestines. 

Treatment.  Acute  indi2;estion  and  flatulent  colic,  if  not  too 
severe,  and  taken  in  time,  will  often  respond  to  some  of  our 
simple  home  remedies.  Turpentine,  three  to  six  tablespoonfuls, 
according  to  size  of  the  horse  and  severity  of  the  case,  given  in  a 
pint  of  raw  linseed  oil  is  a  good  home  remedy.  One-half  to  a 
teacupful  of  baking  soda,  given  alone,  or,  better  still,  combined 
with  one  or  two  tal)lespoonfuls  of  ginger,  is  often  very  effective. 
Two  or  three  tablespoonfuls  of  creolin  in  a  quart  of  water  is  very 
good.  Salicylic  acid  in  one-half  ounce  doses  is  considered  a  specific 
for  acute  indigestion.  If  a  horse  is  badly  bloated  never  let  him 
throw  himself  violently  on  the  ground,  as  he  is  apt  to  rupture  the 
stomach  or  intestine.  If  he  will  lie  down  and  remain  so,  that  is 
ideal,  but  do  not  let  him  be  continually  lying  down  and  getting 
up.  If  necessary  take  a  whip  to  keep  him  on  his  feet,  and  make 
him  walk  around.  Very  often  medicines  are  of  little  or  no  use 
and  the  only  thing  that  will  save  the  horse  is  the  prompt  use  of 


Colic  a.nd  Azatikea  255 

the  stomach  pump  or  the  trocar.  These  two  operations  should 
be  employed  only  by  veterinarians,  but  the  results  are  woiu'erful 
if  administered  in  time. 

Excess  of  Paiihj  Digested  Food  and  Fecal  Matter  in  the  Digest- 
ive Tract 

In  addition  to  some  of  the  general  causes  for  colic  mentioned 
above  we  find  that  certain  specific  conditions  predispose  a  horse  to 
this  form  of  colic.  Old,  worn-out  horses,  or  youni>'  horses  that 
are  out  of  condition,  are  more  subject  to  impaction  on  account 
of  scanty  secretions,  loss  of  elasticity,  and  lack  of  nervous  tone 
to  the  bowels.  Horses  that  are  ravenous  feeders  and  big  hay  eaters 
—  that  eat  their  bedding  in  addition  to  their  hay  —  are  more 
subject  to  this  trouble,  especially  if  they  are  light  drinkers.  It 
occurs  very  fre(|uently  during  the  winter  months  when,  on  ac- 
count of  less  work  for  the  horse,  we  feed  less  grain  but  increase 
the  amount  of  coarse,  dry,  bulky  fodders.  Horses  that  are  fed 
large  quantities  of  straw  are  subject  to  this  form  of  colic,  hence 
it  has  been  called  straw  colic.  Failure  to  drink  enough  water  in 
cold  weather,  or  at  any  time  of  the  year,  is  often  the  essential 
cause,  since  a  lil)eral  amount  of  water  in  the  digestive  tract  is 
absolutely  necessary  for  good  digestion  and  to  soften  and  moisten 
the  excess  of  dry  food.  In  this  way  it  assists  in  removing  the 
waste  matter  from  the  body.  Lack  of  daily  exercise  conduces  to 
sluggish  bowel  action. 

Symptoms.  These  may  be  very  slight  or  entirely  absent  at 
first.  As  the  excess  of  fecal  matter  may  have  been  accumulating 
for  several  weeks  the  horse  is  rarely  stricken  with  intense  pain 
at  first.  The  first  day  or  two,  and  sometimes  for  a  week  or  more 
he  may  show  colicky  pains,  manifested  by  pawing  at  intervals, 
lying  down  and  getting  u}),  lying  down  more  than  ordinarily,  or 
frequently  lying  out  flat  with  head  and  limbs  extended.  There 
is  seldom  much  bloating,  although  the  abdoaiien  often  presents 
a  general  fullness  throughout ;  yet  the  reverse  is  often  the  case, 
especially  if  the  horse  has  eaten  but  little,  when  the  a-bdomcn 
appears  puckered  up.  Sometimes  the  horse  will  seemingly  pass 
the  ordinary  amount  of  manure,  though  usually  very  little  or  no 
manure  starts,  and  this  is  often  hard  and  sometimes  coated  with 
a   white,    slimy   mucus.      In   cases   that   set   in   rather   abruptly 


250  The  IIokse  JxDrsTKv  i\  New  Yoi;k  State 

diarrhea  often  precedes  the  attack.  This  condition  frequently 
causes  a  mistaken  dia,2,"nosis.  As  conditions  ^c;row  worse  the  pain 
continues,  though  decidedly  worse  at  certain  times.  He  may  sit 
on  his  haunches  like  a  doi>-  to  relieve  the  pressure  on  the  heart  and 
lunijs.  The  runihle  (peristalsis)  in  the  bowels  practically  ceases, 
pulse  beco.mes  rapid  aud  weak.  Stretching'  out  on  all  four  limbs 
and  making  small  amounts  of  urine  is  a  very  characteristic 
symptom.  This  condition  is  caused  by  the  over-distended  bowel 
pressing  directly  on  the  bladder,  causing  an  irritation  and  often- 
times a  slight  inflammation  of  the  bladder.  Farmers  are  very  apt 
to  call  this  condition  kidney  or  bladder  troiible.  Kidney  and 
bladder  trouble  is  very  rare  in  horses. 

Treatment.  In  mild  cases,  a  change  to  a  laxative  diet  such 
as  bran  mashes,  roots,  one  pound  of  linseed  meal  per  day  or  one 
pint  per  day  of  stock  molasses,  will  often  prevent  or  overcome 
the  less  severe  attacks.  In  the  more  severe  cases  our  line  of  treat- 
ment must  aim  to  overcome  the  following  conditions :  ( a )  Soften- 
ing of  the  dry,  hard  contents  of  the  digestive  tract;  (b)  overcom- 
ing the  paralysis  that  has  been  produced  by  the  prolonged  over- 
distension;   (c)   expulsion  of  the  contents. 

The  softening  of  the  contents  is  the  first  and  most  important 
consideration.  Induce  the  horse  to  drink  large  amounts  of 
water.  This  will  macerate  and  soften  the  contents  in  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  digestive  tract.  The  only  way  to  make 
the  horse  drink  is  to  give  him  plenty  of  salt.  Give  a  small  pinch 
on  the  tongue  every  little  wdiile  until  he  has  had  a  half-pound,  or 
dissolve  one-fourth  of  a  pound  in  a  quart  of  water,  and  give  two 
or  three  doses  a  few  hours  apart.  Rectal  injections  of  warm 
water  are  very  important  as  the  impaction  is  very  often  near  that 
portion  of  the  bowel.  When  the  hand  is  introduced  with  the 
hose  or  syringe,  the  over-distended  bowel  can  often  be  felt,  thus 
confirming  our  diagnosis. 

Various  drugs  are  used  to  overcome  the  paralyzed  condition 
of  the  bowels.  Fluid  extract  of  nux  vomica  given  three  or  four 
times  a  day  in  doses  ranging  from  one-half  a  teaspoonful  to  one 
teaspoonful  is  the  safest  thing  a  farmer  can  give.  When  very 
large  doses  of  this  drug  are  given,  twitching  or  jerking  of  the 
muscles  is  sometimes  seen.  That  means  that  the  dose  should  bo 
reduced.  It  should  also  l)e  borne  in  mind  that  large  doses  of  iiux 
vomica  often  cause  abortion  in  pregnant  animals. 


Colic  and  Azaturea  257 

A  good  dose  of  physic  to  expel  the  contents  should  be  given 
early.  Veterinarians  often  give  one  ounce  of  aloes  if  there  is  no 
tendency  of  inflammation  of  the  bowels.  One  quart  of  raw  lin- 
seed oil  is  about  the  safest  physic  a  farmer  can  give  a  horse. 
Large  doses  of  physic  often  cause  abortion  in  brood  mares,  so 
always  tell  the  veterinarian  if  the  mare  is  pregnant. 

Some  horses  are  very  subject  to  impaction,  and  in  such  cases 
the  diet  of  coarse  fodder  should  be  restricted  and  a  more  laxa- 
tive one  provided,  such  as  an  occasional  bran  mash,  a  daily  feed 
of  roots,  a  'pound  of  linseed  meal  added  to  the  other  grain  ration, 
or  a  pint  or  more  of  stock  molasses  added  to  the  grain  once  a  day. 
It  is  very  important  that  we  prevent  the  brood  mare  from  being 
constipated  by  giving  a  laxative  diet,  since  the  dose  of  physic 
given  for  impaction  colic  is  liable  to  result  in  either  abortion  or 
death. 

Spasmodic  or  Cramp  Colic 

This  is  not  so  common  nor  so  dangerous  as  the  other  two  forms. 
The  nervous,  high-bred  road  and  saddle  horses  are  more  subject 
to  this  condition  than  the  quiet,  docile  drafter. 

Though  we  have  enumerated  most  of  the  causes  of  colic  under 
our  general  heading,  yet  with  this  form  we  must  lay  special 
emphasis  on  the  action  of  cold  substances  in  the  horse's  stomach. 
This  is  especially  true  if  the  horse  is  very  warm  or  very  tired. 
Therefore  never  give  a  horse  a  large  amount  of  very  cold  water 
when  he  is  heated  or  very  tired.  Water  that  has  stood  in  the 
sun  and  thus  has  been  rendered  a  few  degrees  warmer  is  much 
safer,  since  spasmodic  colic  is  frequently  seen  immediately  after 
drinking. 

Symptoms.  Spasmodic  colic  is  very  sudden  in  its  onset.  The 
horse  stops  eating,  begins  to  crouch,  kick  at  his  belly,  and  turn  his 
head  toward  the  side.  The  pain  is  usually  more  or  less  intermit- 
tent. It  may  be  intense  for  a  few  minutes  and  then  suddenly 
cease  and  the  horse  appear  normal.  Soon  another  spasm  occurs, 
however,  and  the  horse  is  in  greater  agony  than  before.  The  ear 
applied  to  the  side  of  the  bowels  usually  detectsi  an  increased 
rumble,  while  in  the  other  forms  of  colic,  the  rumble  is  usually 
decreased.     The  pulse  is  strong  and  breathing  is  natural. 

Treatment.  Anything  to  relieve  the  spasm  is  indicated.  •  A 
hypodermic  injection  of  two  or  three  grains  of  morpine  sulphate 


258  The  Hoese  Industky  in  New  York  State 

in  the  neck  will  usually  brinj^  relief.  Two  or  three  tablespoonfuls 
of  laudanum,  given  by  the  mouth,  while  not  so  rapid,  generally 
effect  a  cure  in  a  few  minutes. 

general  conclusions  on  the  treatment  and  prevention  of 

COLIC 

Very  little  has  been  said  in  the  foregoing  article  about  preven- 
tion of  colic,  although  it  is  the  essential  thing  in  caring  for  horses. 
Since  a  somewhat  lengthy  discussion  of  the  causes  of  colic  has  been 
given,  it  would  be  but  a  repetition  of  what  has  already  been  stated 
to  include  them  again  under  the  subject  of  prevention.  A  few 
suggestions  that  apply  to  all  forms  of  colic  are  offered. 

When  horses  are  recovering  from  colic,  farmers  often  tempt 
them  to  eat  hay  or  grain.  This  is  wrong.  When  a  horse  cannot 
digest  his  food,  and  colic  results,  he  should  not  have  more  food, 
since  that  aggravates  matters  and  often  causes  a  relapse.  Wait 
at  least  a  couple  of  hours  after  all  pain  has  subsided  and  then 
feed  only  a  little  hay,  wheat  bran,  or  possibly  a  very  few  oats. 
Horses  that  have  had  long  sieges  should  be  fed  sparingly  for 
several  days.  If  they  do  not  respond  to  treatment  in  a  reasonable 
time  a  dose  of  physic  should  ordinarily  be  given.  Usually  about 
one  quart  of  raw  linseed  oil  is  the  safest  thing  for  the  layman  to 
give.  It  usually  takes  from  twenty-four  to  thirty-six  hours,  and 
often  longer,  to  physic  a  horse,  so  do  not  make  the  mistake  of 
repeating  the  second  dose  too  soon,  as  it  might  kill  the  horse. 

Rectal  injections  are  very  benelicial.  Three  or  four  gallons  of 
water  heated  to  body  temperature,  or  even  a  little  warmer  if  it 
does  not  inconvenience  the  patient,  can  be  injected  every  hour  or 
two.  A  cupful  of  raw  linseed  oil  or  glycerine,  or  even  a  little 
hard  soap,  is  often  added  to  the  water.  A  very  simple  device  on 
the  farm  is  to  use  a  rubber  hose  and  a  funnel.  Care  should  bo 
exercised  to  see  that  the  hose  is  well  oiled  and  is  inserted  into  the 
rectum  carefully.  If  much  force  is  used  the  rectum  may  be 
ruptured. 

In  many  cases  the  farmer  does  not  know  which  kind  of  colic  the 
horse  has.  He  perhaps  does  not  see  the  horse  when  first  taken,  and 
finds  him  suffering  from  pain,  and,  being  somewhat  nervous  and 
excited,  does  fairly  well  if  he  will  call  it  under  the  general  name 


Colic  and  Azaturea  259 

colic.  In  siicli  conditions  a  combination  of  drugs  is  indicated. 
A  pint  or  even  a  little  more  of  raw  linseed  oil  is  practically  always 
good.  To  this  add  four  tablespoonfuls  of  turpentine  (the  turpen- 
tine is  for  any  gas  that  may  be  present  or  forming),  and  three 
tablespoonfuls  of  laudanimi  (the  laudanum  is  to  overcome  the 
pain  or  any  spasm  of  the  bowels).  Chloral  hydrate  has  the  com- 
bined action  of  the  laudanum  and  turpentine,  and,  if  used,  both 
of  the  latter  should  be  omitted.  The  dose  is  one  ounce,  or  a 
level  tablespoonful.  This  should  be  given  in  a  quart  of  water, 
since  it  is  very  burning  to  the  mouth.  It  makes  the  horse  unsteady 
in  his  limbs  and  sleepy.  The  chloral  may  be  repeated  in  about 
forty  minutes  if  there  is  no  improvement,  but  if  repeated,  give 
only  one-half  the  amount.  I  think  chloral  hydrate  is  about  the 
best  all-around  drug  the  farmer  can  keep  for  colic.  There  are  a 
score  or  more  of  drugs  used  for  colic,  and  if  you  have  any  par- 
ticular drug  or  prescription  that  always  cures  and  never  fails  by' 
all  means  make  no  change. 

Veterinarians  today  treat  most  of  their  cases  with  hypodermics 
that  cause  a  rapid  evacuation  of  the  bowel  and  removal  of  gas. 
They  should  not  be  recommended  for  use  by  the  average  lay- 
man, because  in  some  cases  they  would  do  serious  injury. 

AZATUREA BLACK    WATER MONDAY    MORNING    DISEASE 

This  is  a  disease  that  primarily  affects  the  well-fed  and  well- 
cared-for  draft  horse.  x\mong  farmers  it  is  often  considered  a 
kidney  trouble,  owing  to  the  thick,  dark,  coffee-colored  urine, 
while  in  some  localities  it  has  been  called  paralysis  or  spinal 
meningitis,  owing  to  the  partial  or  complete  paralysis  of  one  or 
both  posterior  limbs. 

Cause  of  the  Disease 

The  causes  of  this  trouble  are  not  thoroughly  understood,  but 

self-poisoning  from  the  blood  is  generally  considered  to  be  the 
principal  one.  The  disease  attacks  the  thriving,  well-conditioned 
horse  who  has  remained  idle  for  one  or  more  days  without  the 
customary  amount  of  food  being  decreased.  Usually  the  horse  is 
fat,  though  this  is  not  always  the  case. 

One  theory,  and  perhaps  the  most  plausible  one,  is  that  during 
the  days  of  idleness,  the  blood  becomes  charged  with  albumenoids, 


260  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

due  to  high  protein  feeding  without  exercise.  A  large  proportion 
of  this  over-rich  blood  remains  in  the  liver,  spleen,  etc.  Then, 
when  the  horse  is  taken  ont,  the  active  exercise  increases  the 
heart  and  Inng  action  and  carries  this  torpid  ])lood  throngk  the 
system  too  fast.  As  a  result  the  system  cannot  accommodate 
itself  to  this  sudden  oversnpply  and  take  care  of  the  excess  of 
albumenoids,  and  so  self-poisoning  takes  place.  This  is  manifested 
by  paralysis  and  a  disturbed  nervous  condition.  Exercise  is 
always  necessary  for  the  development  of  this  affection,  so  that  a 
horse  is  never  stricken  in  the  stable,  but  on  the  road  when  he  is 
being  ridden  or  driven,  A  horse  that  is  out  of  condition,  with  a 
rough,  hide-bound  skin,  is  practically  never  affected,  neither  is 
one  that  remains  idle  for  long  periods. 

Symptoms 
Usually  when  the  horse  first  leaves  the  stable  he  feels  unusually 
active  and  spirited,  owing  to  his  previous  rest,  but  before  he 
travels  very  far  —  sometimes  not  more  than  thirty  or  forty  rods, 
though  usually  one  or  two  miles  —  marked  symptoms  are  ob- 
served. Horses  have  been  known  to  travel  several  miles  and  be 
put  into  a  stable  and  then  come  down  with  the  disease.  About 
the  first  noticeable  symptom  is  that  the  horse  suddenly  begins  to 
lag,  does  not  drive  up,  and  fails  to  respond  to  the  whip.  In  the 
majority  of  cases  he  begins  to  sweat,  sometimes  very  profusely. 
The  characteristic  symptom  is  the  paralysis  or  loss  of  control  of 
one  or  both  hind  limbs,  though  occasionally  it  is  the  fore  limbs 
that  are  affected  instead  of  the  posterior  ones.  He  begins  to  get 
stiff  and  drag  one  or  both  limbs.  In  the  more  severe  cases,  the 
affected  parts  are  unable  to  sustain  their  share  of  the  weight  of 
the  body.  If  both  hind  limbs  are  severely  affected  the  horse 
goes  down  behind  and  may  sit  on  his  haunches  like  a  dog.  The 
muscles  on  the  affected  side  along  the  loins,  croup  and  buttock 
are  dense,  rigid,  and  hard,  and  can  hardly  be  dented  on  pressure 
with  the  fingers.     The  rectum  and  bladder  are  usually  paralyzed. 

Treatment 
Stop    the    animal    at    once    on    the    appearance    of    the   first 
symptoms,  letting  him  stand  thirty  to  forty  minutes,  which  is 
usually  long  enough  to  afford  time  for  the  system  to  neutralize 


Colic  and  Azaturea  261 

and  carry  off  the  auto-intoxication.  Keeping  him  perfectly  quiet 
Avith  as  little  movement  of  the  aifected  muscles  as  possible  will 
do  more  towards  recovery  than  all  the  medical  treatments  we  can 
render  the  animals.  If  the  patient  is  down  and  unable  to  rise,  he 
should  be  drawn  to  a  near-by  barn  on  a  stone  boat  and  made  as 
comfortable  as  possible  by  being  placed  in  a  box  stall,  or  on  the 
open  bam  floor.  In  cases  where  the  horse  is  down,  or  stands  with 
difficulty,  the  services  of  a  skilled  veterinarian  are  needed  as  soon 
?fs  possible,  as  the  bladder  usually  needs  to  be  emptied.  The  urine 
has  a  thick,  coffee-like  color  from  whence  the  disease  gets  its  name, 
black  water. 

Until  the  arrival  of  the  veterinarian  the  patient's  suffering  can 
be  greatly  relieved  by  applying  some  form  of  heat  over  the  rigid 
muscles  of  the  loins,  croup,  and  thighs.  Put  a  bushel  of  salt  in 
pans  and  heat  it  in  the  oven ;  put  it  in  sacks,  and  apply  to  the 
affected  muscles.  If  hot  water  is  used,  care  should  bo  taken  to 
see  that  the  parts  are  well  dried  by  rubbing  with  straw  or  clothes 
and  then  covered  with,  blankets.  A  pail  of  hot  water  to  which 
a  cupful  of  salt  is  added  is  very  effective. 

It  is  very  esential  that  we  keep  the  patient  quiet.  If  he  gets 
uneasy  and  commences  to  toss  his  head  up  and  down  and  tries  to 
keep  changing  his  position,  he  will  soou  end  in  a  speedy  death.  A 
tablespoonful  of  potassium  bromide  given  in  a  pint  of  water,  and 
about  half  that  amount  repeated  every  hour  or  two  until  the 
patient  isi  quiet  and  assumes  a  sleepy  titttiude,  is  very  effective 
treatment.  Fluid  extract  of  canabis  indica  can  be  given  in  the 
same  way  and  in  the  same  sized  doses  as  the  potassium  bromide. 
Drinking  water  given  every  hour  in  reasonable  amounts  is  recom- 
mended. Laudanum,  though  it  would  quiet  the  animal,  is  too 
constipating  to  be  used.  Bleeding,  if  it  can  be  done  at  the  onset, 
is  one  of  the  quickest  ways  to  relieve  the  system  of  the  over-rich 
blood.  The  rectum  should  be  emptied  by  hot  water  injections. 
A  good  dose  of  physic  and  some  medicine  to  stimulate  the  kidneys 
is  usually  recommended,  but  their  use  should  be  left  to  the  judg- 
ment of  the  veterinarian. 

Prevention 

Since  one  attack  of  this  trouble  predisposes  to  others,  it  is  essen- 
tial that  we  avoid  those  things  that  favor  its  onset.  Regular  work 
every  day  is  the  surest  way  to  prevent  it.    Though  the  system  may 


262  The  Horse  Industry  in  New  York  State 

be  rendered  in  such  a  condition  by  high  feeding  during  a  period 
of  idleness  as  to  predispose  an  attack,  yet  exercise  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  its  development.  Therefore  on  Sundays,  holidays, 
and  in  stormy  weather,  when  the  horse  does  not  receive  exercise, 
it  is  important  that  we  decrease  the  amount  of  grain,  giving, 
perhaps,  only  half  the  usual  allowance.  A  laxative  diet,  as  a 
bran  mash,  on  every  Saturday  night,  or  a  small  dose  of  physic 
during  a  period  of  rest  is  beneficial. 

Since  horses  appear  to  be  more  subject  to  azaturea  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  when  farmers  begin  to  increase  their  grain  rations  and 
get  them  into  condition  for  the  spring's  work,  a  half  to  a  table- 
spoonful  of  saltpetre  in  a  bran  mash  every  Saturday  night  for 
several  weeks  assists  greatly  in  warding  off  an  attack. 

The  driver  can  prevent  the  great  majority  of.  cases  by  making 
the  horse  walk  the  first  half  mile,  and  even  if  the  work  is  severe, 
let  him  rest  frequently  during  the  first  twenty  minutes;  or, 
better  still,  lead  him  a  few  minutes  by  the  halter  before  putting 
him  to  severe  exercise.  Starting  the  horse  in  easy  when  he 
commences  his  day's  work  and  letting  him  warm  up  slowly  is 
advisable  at  all  times,  but  it  is  very  important  if  he  has  been 
standing  for  several  days. 


HORSE  COMPANIONSHIP* 

Fraxk  Sherman  Peer,  Ithaca,  IST.  Y. 
Author  of  "  Soiling,  Ensilage,  and  Stable  Construction." 

"  When  you  are  hot  and  thirsty 

And'  you  stop  to  get  a  drink, 
Or  seek'a  friendly  shade  tree, 

Do  you  ever  stop  to  think 
That  horses  which  have  labored 

In  the  dust  and  heat  for  you, 
May  feel  the  same  as  you  feel, 

And  would  like  some  water  too? 

It  takes  but  little  effort 

For  a  man  to  till  the  soil. 
If  we  compare  his  labor 

With  the  way  a  horse  must  moil. 
The  liorse  serves  well  his  master, 

Although  oft  in  need  of  rest : 
The  man  who  treats  him  kindly 

Is  the  man  he  serves  the  best." 

I  have  had  a  great  deal  to  say  about  confidence  and  companion- 
ship between  rider  and  mount,  which  I  have  deckired  to  be  better 
understood  in  England  than  in  America.  The  average  Ameri- 
can seems  to  look  upon  a  horse  as  simply  a  convenience,  like  the 
bicycle  or  the  trolley  cars  —  a  means  by  which  he  may  reach  his 
destination  sooner  and  with  less  fatigue  than  by  walking.  He 
presses  a  button  and  the  horse  is  brought  to  the  door,  and  when 
he  is  through  with  him  a  groom  takes  him  away  again.  The 
horse  does  not  attain  to  the  confidence  of  his  master  as  he  does  in 
England,  where  he  becomes  part  of  the  family.  There  is  noth- 
ing degrading  in  the  idea  of  companionship  with  a  horse.  When 
one  comes  to  think  of  it,  many  men  and  some  women  not  in- 
frequently have  about  them  less  edifying  associates  of  their  omi 
kind.  '^0  man,  woman  or  child  was  ever  the  worse  for  an 
intimate  association  with  a  well-bred  horse  or  dog. 

It  cannot  be  too  much  insisted  on  that  this  companionship  be- 
tween horse  and  rider  is  the  very  essence  of  cross-country  riding. 
Whoever  has  failed  to  secure  the  confidence  of  his  mount  and  his 
mount's  in  himself  has  failed  of  enjoying  the  best  half  of  the 
game.     The  right  sort  of  man,  even  if  he  may  hardly  be  feeling 

*  Extracts  (by  permission  of  the  author)  from  Cross  Country  ivith  Horse 
and  Hound,  by  F.  S.  Peer. 

[263] 


264  The  IIokse  Ixdustey  in  New  York  State 

well  enough  for  a  day's  liiinting,  will  go  out  rather  than  deprive 
his  horse  of  the  pleasure  —  a  bit  of  self-sacrifice  which  some- 
times happens  in  England,  unusual  as  it  may  be  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic.  The  love  of  animals,  especially  of  horses, 
is  born  and  bred  in  the  English  people.  Unlike  some  Americans, 
they  one  and  all  care  enough  for  a  horse  that  has  given  them  a 
most  glorious  day's  sport  to  stay  at  the  stable  and  see  him  done 
up  properly  and  fed  before  they  dine  themselves.  In  England 
the  children  are  brought  up  from  infancy  to  consider  the  feelings 
of  all  domestic  animals.  An  old  favorite  mare  soon  to  have  a 
foal  is  talked  over  again  and  again,  and  the  expectant  mother  has 
the  best  of  care.  Love  and  respect  increase  as  the  eventful  time 
approaches.  She  is  turned  out  on  the  lawn  in  front  of  the  house 
where  the  grasses  are  tenderest  and  sweetest,  and  the  best  of 
everything  is  none  too  good  for  her.  The  children  divide  with 
her  their  candy ;  the  baby  is  held  up  and  taught  to  caress  and  love 
her.  The  dear  old  mare's  matronly  appearance  is  never  a  cause 
of  shame,  but  a  pride ;  and  when  at  last  she  has  produced  her  foal, 
the  entire  family,  down  to  nurse  and  the  baby,  must  all  go  down 
to  the  stable  to  see  it.  With  such  instincts,  is  it  any  wonder  that 
Englishmen  and  Englishwomen  love  a  horse?  Is  it  any  wonder 
that  there  exists  between  an  English  rider  and  his  mount  a 
potent  feeling  of  companionship  ?  Is  it  any  cause  for  question 
why  in  England  and  Scotland  there  are  a  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  packs  of  hounds  ?  Xeed  one  long  inquire  why  this  sport 
has  such  a  powerful  hold  that  it  is  followed  unceasingly  through 
yonth,  manhood  and  old  age  ? 

There  seems  to  exist  between  man  and  beast  a  certain  force 
by  which  the  former  is  able  to  exert  over  the  latter  some  subtle 
influence  to  which  various  names  such  as  ^'  bond  of  sympathy  "  or 
"  an  indefinable  something  "  are  occasionally  given.  So  far  as  I 
am  aware,  no  writer  on  hunting  has  attempted  to  advance  any 
hypothesis  which  may  reasonably  account  for  the  source  of  this 
power  or  define  its  scope  and  limitations. 

We  hear  it  said  that  dogs  and  horses  love  certain  people  be- 
cause these  people  love  them,  and  that  this  love  itself  explains 
their  control  over  horses  or  dogs.  ^'All  dogs  take  to  me,"  one 
person  says ;  '^  I  don't  know  why  it  is,  but  I  can  make  them  do 
almost  anything."     And,  indeed,  some  persons  easily  teach  a  dog 


Horse  Companionship  265 

or  a  cat  or  a  bird  a  trick  which  another  would  require  weeks  to 
instruct  them  in,  if  he  did  not  fail  altogether.  Yet,  while  it  is 
true  that  a  person  who  loves  animals  is  more  likely  to  train  them 
easily,  the  power  cannot  be  attributed  to  love,  for  often  an  entire 
stranger  can  make  an  animal  do  things  which  the  o\\^ier,  who 
loves  the  creature  dearly  and  is  in  turn  dearly  loved,  fails  to 
accomplish.  One  man  will  take  a  horse  that  he  has  never  seen 
or  ridden  before  through  a  cross-country  run  to  hounds,  and 
bring  him  in  at  the  death  without  exhausting  him  as  much  as  his 
owner  would,  although  the  latter  may  be  as  good  ai  horseman  and 
lighter  in  weight.  Every  hunting  field  aifords  examples  of  this, 
which  cannot  be  accounted  for  by  difference  of  horsemanship. 
Writers  on  hunting  all  agree  that  some  men  can  make  a  horse  do 
most  incredible  things,  and  attribute  this  wonderful  power  of 
control  to  "  better  hands,"  "  better  seat,"  or  what  not.  It  must 
be  admitted  that  a  person  with  very  bad  hands  or  a  bad  seat,  or 
both,  may  irritate  a  horse  and  take  more  out  of  him  in  a  run  than 
a  man  with  perfect  hands  and  seat ;  but  an  explanation  on  this 
basis  does  not  account  for  the  fact  that  a  better  rider  and  a  lighter 
can  come  through  a  run  with  the  better-conditioned  horse  pumped 
to  a  turn,  while  another  man  who  has  ridden  the  same  line  brings 
his  horse  in  comparatively  fresh ;  or  that  two  such  men  may 
change  horses  in  the  next  run  and  find  the  results  change  too. 
The  fact  has  been  demonstrated  so  often  in  every  hunting-field 
that  I  need  not  enlarge  upon  it,  except  to  say  we  must  look  further 
than  any  theory  as  to  hands  and  seat,  or  the  power  of  love,  in  ex- 
planation of  such  phenomena. 

Most  of  my  readers  have  doubtless  seen,  at  exhibitions  through- 
out the  country,  examples  of  the  wonderful  control  some  men  have 
over  animals,  the  wild  becoming  tame,  the  nervous  quiet,  and  the 
vicious  tractable  under  their  magic  influence.  Such  things  are 
sometimes  explained  by  the  skeptics  as  the  result  of  "  doping." 
From  personal  knowledge,  however,  as  a  pupil  of  Earns,  and 
from  personal  acquaintance  with  the  late  Professor  Xorris,  and 
since  with  his  son  Mr.  Stuart  Norris,  who  is  following  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  illustrious  father  in  the  training  and  exhibition  of 
trick  horses,  I  am  positive  in  saying  that  there  is  absolutely  no 
foundation  in  attributing  to  this  "  doping ''  theory  the  wonderful 
power  of  control  which  these  men  display. 


266  The  Horse  Iistdustry  ix  New  York  State 

Let  us  see  if  an  attempt  to  puzzle  out  or  analyze  this  power 
will  not  result  in  establishing  its  source.  We  may  start  with  the 
assumption  that  the  numerous  terms  in  common  use  to  define  this 
power  —  charm,  gift,  personal  magnetism,  will  power,  natural 
instinct  —  go  to  show  that  its  existence  is  recognized  beyond 
doubt  or  question.  An  analogous  power  of  control  exist- 
ing between  man  and  man  is  familiar  under  the  names  of 
hypnotism,  magiietism,  mesmerism,  or  kindred  mind-power  mani- 
festations. All  mind-power  manifestation,  under  whatever  name, 
is,  I  believe,  subject  to  one  universal  condition,  namely,  consent. 
The  resemblance  between  the  terms  generally  adopted  in  attempt- 
ing to  describe  the  power  that  some  men  have  over  their  mounts, 
and  the  terms  by  which  wo  try  to  describe  hypnotism  and  other 
mind-power  manifestations  between  men  and  men,  is  significant. 
One  set  of  words  applies  just  as  fairly  to  the  power  some  men  are 
capable  of  exerting  over  some  other  men  as  they  do  to  the  powers 
which  great  animal  tamers  or  our  peculiarly  gifted  horsemen  have 
over  the  animals  they  bend  to  their  wills.  That  some  men  possess 
this  power  over  animals  and  are  unconscious  of  exerting  it  is  no 
proof  that  the  power  does  not  exist.  Hypnotism,  though  old  in  | 
essence,  is  in  practice  very  lately  out  of  its  infancy,  yet  making 
vast  progress.  Several  physicians  of  my  acquaintance  are  mak- 
ing use  of  it  with  most  satisfactory  results,  even  employing  it  in 
place  of  antiseptics  when  performing  dental  and  surgical  opera- 
tions. So  rapidly  has  this  subject  developed  of  late  in  the  medi- 
cal world  that  one  of  the  most  successful  physicians  of  today 
says :  '^  Within  ten  years  from  now  no  student  of  medicine  will 
be  considered  master  of  the  profession  unless  he  is  able  to  com- 
mand this  power."  If  this  mind  power  between  man  and  man  is 
the  same  as  that  between  man  and  beast,  we  have  probably  what 
may  be  termed  a  w^orking  hypothesis  covering  the  whole  field  and 
reasonably  accounting  for  many  otherwise  unaccountable  things 
in  the  way  of  horsemanship. 

We  noticed,  under  the  subject  of  mind-power  manifestations 
as  between  man  and  man,  that  the  one  common  factor  prevailing 
in  all  is  consent,  which  has  its  parallel  in  the  relatiou  between 
man  and  beast,  called  by  whatever  name.  In  all  hunting  coun- 
tries there  is  a  saying  that  in  order  to  be  successful  in  horseman- 
ship one  must  first  get  on  good  terms  with  one's  mount.     Getting 


Horse  Compaxioxship 


267 


on  good  terms  with  a  horse  is  merely  obtaining  his  consent  to  be 
governed.  If  these  things  be  true,  it  brings  us  to  the  conclusion 
that  this  power  emanates  from  the  same  source,  whether  exer- 
cised between  man  and  man  or  between  man  and  beast,  and  the 
working  hypothesis  we  have  set  out  to  establish  may  be  summed 
up  as  follows:  (1)  There  exists  a  mind-power  control  between 
man  and  man;  (2)  there  exists  a  mind-power  control  between  man 
and  beast;  and  (3)  the  power  of  control  is  the  same  in  both  cases. 
This  brings  us  to  another  point  purposely  omitted  until  now; 
namely,  that  while  a  person  or  a  horse  may  be  willing  to  be  acted 
upon,  the  person  seeking  to  control  him  must  l^e  desirous  of  doing 
so.  In  all  hypnotic  demonstrations  there  must  be  harmony,  ac- 
cord, or  what  the  French  term  rapport.  Further,  this  power,  or 
desire,  (1)  exists  in  every  person  to  a  greater  or  less  degi-ee;  (2) 
it  is,  like  other  faculties  of  the  mind  or  body,  subject  to  cultiva- 
tion or  development,  and,  like  them,  increases  with  use;  (3)  its 
manifestation  is  in  a  degree  proportionate  to  the  will  of  the  one 
or  the  faith  or  confidence  of  the  other. 


THE  NEW   YORK  STATE   DRAFT  HORSE  BREEDERS 

CLUB 

Realizing  that  an  improvement  in  horse  hreeding  conditions  in 
this  state  conld  only  be  secured  by  cooperation,  concentrated 
effort,  education  and  publicity,  a  few  draft  horse  breeders  who 
met  at  the  State  Breeders'  meeting  at  Utica,  'N.  Y.,  in  1912,  gave 
their  support  to  this  movement.  Three  annual  meetings  of  this 
club  have  been  held  and  the  membership  now  comprises  fo.rty-two 
representative  draft  horse  breeders.  This  organization  has  ad- 
vocated and  recommended  that  horse  breeding  be  among  the  sub- 
jects- discussed  at  the  State  Breeders'  and  Farmers  Institute  meet- 
ings ;  that  a  rational  stallion  enrollment  and  inspection  law  be 
passed ;  that  a  liberal  classification  and  premium  list  be  made  for 
draft  horses  at  our  State  Fair,  and  have  advocated  a  combina- 
tion in  advertising,  buying  and  selling  of  breeding  stock  so  far 
as  might  be  practical.  The  membership  of  this  club  is  not  re- 
stricted in  any  w^ay.  The  name  and  influence  of  every  draft 
horse  breeder  in  the  state  is  desired.  This  club  advocates  no 
one  breed  of  horses  and  desires  to  benefit  no  one  set  of  men  or 
breeders,  but  is  working  for  state-wide  improvement  and  condi- 
tions, in  the  bro.adest  and  most  practical  way.  The  officers  of 
The  ]^ew  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders'  Club  are:  President, 
E.  S.  Akin,  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Secretary,  E.  E.  Horton,  Lester- 
shire,  N.  Y. ;  Executive  Committee,  Darwin  Rumsey,  ISTewfield, 
X.  Y.,  Dr.  J.  S.  Wilder,  Akron,  N.  Y.  and  S.  A.  Ritter,  Geneva, 
N.  Y. 

CLUB  MEMBEES  SEPTEMBER  1,    1915 

Adirondack  Farms,  Glens  Falls  Marshall,  W.,  Aurora 

Akin,  E.  S.,  Syracuse  Miller,  C.  L.,  Xew  York 

Amos,  C.  L.  Sj-racuse  Miller,  C.  P.,  Byron 

Andrews,  B.  B.,  Weedsport  Miller,  G.  W.,  Byron 

Baker,  C.  H.,  Mohegan  Lake  Miner,  W.  H.,  Chazy 

Bennett,  C.  O.,  Hilton  Newman,  A.  W.,  Phelps 

Chapin,  R.  E.,  Batavia  Xewman,  R.   C.,  Phelps 

Cooley,  A.  H.,  Little  Britain  Phetteplace,  G.  E.,  Norwich 

Craig,  J.  L.,  Ogdensbiirg  Quimby,  J.  G.,  New  York 

Grouse,  C.  M.,  Syracuse  Ritter,"  S.  A.,  Geneva 

Deni.ison,  L.  O.,  Buffalo  Rumsey,  Darwin,  Newfield 

Doremus,  G.  S.,  Merrifield  Sisson,"  G.  W.,  Jr.,  Potsdam 

Bold,  J.  C.,  Buffalo  Stone,  G.  F.,  Norwich 

Foran,  John,  Merrifield  Swain,  W.  E.,  Swains 

Gray,  G.  F.,  Lima  Tavlor,  C.  C.,  Lawtons 

Harder,  E.  L.,  Philmont  Virkler,  C.  F.,  Lo^\•ville 

Hillman,  W.  M.,  East  Bethany  Virkler,  W.  F.,  Castorland 

Horton,  E.  E.,  Lestershire  Ward,  F.  D-.,  Batavia 

Jackson,  J.  A...  Holley  Weaver,  G.  H.,  Watertown 

Johnson.  A.  B.,  Caledonia  Wendt,  W.  F.,  Buffalo 

La  Grange,  C.  C.,  Slingerlands  Wilder,  J.  S.,  Akron 

f26S] 


New  York  State  Draft  Horse  Breeders'  Club       269 

STATISTICS  RELATIVE  TO  HORSES  ON  FARMS  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE 
(Taken  fkom  U.  S.  Census,  1910) 

Total 

County  number 

Albany 8,780 

Allegany 13,542 

Broome 8,672 

Cattaraugus 13,888 

Cayuga 15,540 

Chautauqua 17,363 

Chemung 5,  431 

Chenango 10,493 

Clinton 10,415 

Columbia 9,  050 

Cortland 7,033 

Delaware 12,022 

Dutchess 10,945 

Erie 20,839 

Essex 5,907 

Franklin 9.  262 

Fulton 4,064 

Genesee 12,988 

Greene 6,174 

Hamilton 816 

Herkimer 8,213 

Jeft'erson 17,  746 

Kings 221 

Lewis 8,037 

Livingston 13,598 

Madison 11,282 

Monroe 20,639 

^Montgomery.  .  .  .' 7,  639 

Nassau 3,860 

New  York 383 

Niagara 15,510 

Oneida 16,252 

Onondaga 17,128 

Ontario 15,620 

Orange 10,723 

Orleans 10,  924 

Oswego 13,529 

Otsego 13,258 

Putnam 2,195 

Queens 1,914 

Rensselaer 9.  666 

Richmond 378 

Rockland 2,040 

St.  Lawrence 22,  665 


Number 
Mature 
Horses 

Number 
Yearling 

Colts 

Number 
Spring 
Colts 

Value 

8,470 

255 

55 

$1,273,692 

12,627 

810 

105 

1,839,085 

8,238 

387 

47 

1,087.782 

13,040 

756 

92 

1,792,192 

14. 767 

689 

84 

2,071,776 

16,440 

831 

92 

2,288,348 

5,  104 

277 

40 

648, 199 

10,055 

397 

41 

1,338,033 

9,676 

690 

49 

1,310,434 

8,827 

194 

29 

1,244,941 

6,685 

321 

27 

890,897 

11,582 

404 

36 

1,584,680 

10.  546 

341 

58 

1,505.709 

19,980 

728 

131 

2,891,072 

5,534 

349 

24 

779,847 

8,580 

641 

41 

1,137,482 

3,851 

198 

15 

543,860 

12,271 

597 

120 

1,766,628 

5,  982 

165 

27 

857,034 

783 

32 

1 

126,107 

7,868 

307 

38 

1,144,576 

16,  70S 

892 

146 

2, 192, 669 

221 

44,247 

7,711 

288 

38 

1,059,416 

12.  700 

780 

118 

1,919,251 

10,724 

509 

49 

1,468,716 

19,675 

784 

180 

3,233.135 

7,221 

327 

91 

1,  065,  093 

3.817 

36 

7 

759.364 

380 

3 

48,975 

14,583 

738 

189 

2,300,416 

15,738 

470 

44 

2.363,190 

16,373 

676 

79 

2,351,464 

14,732 

746 

142 

2. 132,928 

10,366 

293 

64 

1,619,266 

10, 285 

521 

118 

1,681,456 

12.846 

629 

54 

1,682,653 

12,673 

519 

66 

1,658,469 

2,138 

42 

15 

344,234 

1,912 

1 

1 

378,784 

9,373 

273 

20 

1,337,347 

377 

1 

73,020 

2,008 

29 

3 

318,605 

21,235 

1,281 

149 

2,694,836 

270 


The  Hoese  Industry  in  New  York  State 


Total 

County  number 

Saratoga 8, 115 

Schenectady 3, 162 

Scholiaiie. 8,  237 

Schuyler 5,392 

Seneca 7 ,  879 

Steuben  20,506 

Suffolk 6,347 

Sullivan 7,215 

Tioga 6,619 

Tompkins 8,120 

Ulster 9.  724 

Warren 3,221 

Washington 10,070 

Wayne 15,373 

Westchester 5,392 

Wyoming 11, 732 

Yates 7,270 

The  State  591.  008 


Number 
Mature 
Horses 

Number 
Yearling 

Colts 

Number 
Spring 
Colts 

Value 

7,870 

217 

28 

$1,  066,  762 

3,045 

93 

24 

428,430 

7,919 

270 

48 

990, 987 

5,090 

270 

32 

667,213 

7,365 

414 

100 

1,039,821 

19,226 

1,130 

150 

2,613,884 

6,273 

66 

8 

904,696 

6,823 

321 

71 

945.919 

6,191 

382 

46 

798. 691 

7,718 

351 

51 

991.995 

9,576 

127 

21 

1,354,656 

3,066 

147 

8 

428,997 

9,614 

423 

33 

1,337,332 

14,590 

679 

104 

2,099,853 

5,274 

90 

28 

1,052,720 

11,117 

551 

64 

1,586.543 

6,851 

346 

73 

984.895 

562,310 

25,083 

3,615 

$80,043,302 

INDEX 


A 

Abdallahs,  origin  of,  23,  24. 
Acute   indigestion,  253,  254. 
Akin,  E.  S.,  Belgian,  The,  82-90. 
Draft  Breeds  of  France,  71-81. 
Draft   Breeds   of   Great   Britain, 

91-103. 
Stallion  P^nroUment  Law,  315. 
Alexander,  Dr.  A.   S.,  Effects  of  the 
Wisconsin     Stallion  Law,  213,  214. 
Alfalfa  as  feed  for  horses,  188,  189. 
American   Saddle  Horse,  Mrs.   E.   C. 

Railey,  47-56. 
Anatomy  of  horse's  leg  and  foot,  168- 

173. 
Ancestry,  imjiortance  of,  in  breeding, 

15,  41. 
Ankle-cocked    horses,    how    benefited, 

180. 
Ankylosis,  cause  of,  238. 
Arab  Horse,  The,  H.  K.  Bush-Brown, 
27-36. 
anatomy,    27. 
capacity,  29,  30. 
characteristics,   36. 
foundation   of   thoroughbred,   37. 
heredity,  30-32. 
history,    32-36. 
origin,   27. 
Ardennais  horses,  72,  73. 
Artificial  breeding,   147. 
Ass,  breeding  of,   121-123. 

history  of,   120,   121. 
Asses   and   ]Mules,   Dr.    C.    W.    Brod- 

head,   119-128. 
Atavism  in  breeding,  15. 
Automobile  in   relation  to  the  horse, 

25,   44,  221,  222. 
Azaturea,  250-262. 
cause,  259,  260. 
prevention,  261,  262. 
symptoms,   260. 
treatment,  260,  261. 

[271 


B 
Belgian,  The,  E.  S.  Akin,  82-90. 

at  State  Fair,  202,  203. 

characteristics,   87. 

demand  for,  89. 

destruction  of  by  war,  90. 

develoj^ment,   82. 

exhibitions,    84,   So. 

government  subsidies,  83,  84. 

importations,  88. 

types,  85,  87. 
Best  Horse  for  the  Farmer  to  Breed, 

J.  H.   S.  Johnstone,   134-140. 
Bitting,  harness,  164. 

method   of,   164,   165. 
Black  water,   259-262. 
Bony    Structure,    Diseases    of    Limbs 

and.  Dr.  J.  F.  DeVine,  234-240. 
Boulonnais  horses,   73. 
Breeders'     Club,     Xew     York     State 

Draft  Horse,  268. 
Breeding,   artificial,    147. 
Breeding  Horses,  Principles  of,  M.  W. 
Harper,   14-19. 

care  of  mare,  18. 

fall  foals,   19. 

individuality,   15. 

mating,   15. 

pedigree,   15. 

jDerformance,    15. 

prepotency,   16. 

selection,   14. 

soundness,    17. 

spring  foals,   IS,   19. 

sterility,   16. 

young  fillies,  18. 
Breeds   of  horses,  20-119. 

American  Saddle,   47^56. 

Arab,  27-36. 

Ardennais,  72,  73. 

Belgian,    82-90,   202,    203. 

Boulonnais,    73. 

Breton,   72. 

] 


272 


Index 


Breeds  of  horses  —  Continued: 
Cleveland   Bay,    110-118. 
Clydesdale,  9t)-99,  203. 
French   Coach,   112-114. 
German   Coach,    114-110. 
Hackney,    104-109,    111-113. 
Xivernais,   73. 
Percheron,   75-81,   201,   202. 
Standardbred,   20-26. 
Suffolk,  91-96. 
Thoroughbred,   37-45. 
Breton  horses,   72. 

Brodhead,     Dr.     C.     \V.,     Asses    and 
Mules,    119-128. 
Care  of  Horses'   Teeth,   183-1 86. 
Horses'    Feet    and    Their    Care, 
107-182. 
Bronchitis,  245,   246. 
Brood  Mare,  Care  of,  and  Her  Colt, 
L.  Roudebush,  148-154. 
age  to  breed,  148. 
care,   149,   151, 
feed,   149. 

drying  up,  method  of,   151. 
period  of  gestation,   149. 
requirements,    148. 
suitable    place    for    foaling,    149, 
151. 
Burning  of  hoof,  181,  182. 
Bush-Brown,  H.  K.,  The  Arab  Horse, 
27-36. 

C 
Capped    elbow,    treatment    for,    237, 

238. 
Capsule,  use  of,  in  breeding,  147. 
Care   of   Brood   Mare   and   Her   Colt, 
L.   Roudebush,   148-154. 
of  Horse,  Feed  and,  F.  C.  Mink- 

ler,  187-192. 
of  Horses'  Feet,  Dr.  C.  W.  Brod- 
head,  167-182. 
of    Horses'     Teeth,     Dr.     C.     W. 

Brodhead,   183^186. 
of  the  StaUion,  J.  Gelder,   141- 
147. 
Chronic  catarrh,  243,  244. 
Chunk,  the  farm,  131-140. 
desirable  size,  139,  140. 
market  for,  138,  139,  140. 


Cleveland  Bay  horse,  116-118. 
characteristics,  116,  117. 
history,    110. 
registration,   118. 
utility  qualities,   118. 
Clipping   of   shoes,   inadvisability   of, 

182. 
Clul)  foot,  treatment,   173,   174. 
Clydesdale   horse,   90-99. 
at  State  Fair,  203. 
characteristics,   99. 
distribution    of    breeding    stock, 

97. 
history,  96. 

importation  to  United  States,  OS. 
Coach    Horses,    DeVoe    Meade,    110- 
118. 
Cleveland   Bay,    116-118. 
French    Coach,    112-114. 
German   Coach,   114-116. 
Hackney,  110-112. 
Cold    in    head     (Coryza),    treatment 

for,  242,  243. 
Colic,   and  Azaturea,  Dr.   M.   Hamil- 
ton, 251-262. 
causes   of,   2.51-253. 
excess  of  gas  in  digestive  tract, 

253-255. 
excess  of  undigested  food   in  di- 
gestive   tract,    255-257. 
flatulent,   253,   254. 
prevention,  258,  259. 
spasmodic  or  cramp,  257,  258. 
Colt,  breaking  to  halter,  151. 
care   of  young,    151-154. 
feed  and  care,  152,  153. 
feeding  box,  151. 
nursing  of,  151. 
shoeing,  method  of,  177,  179. 
Training    the,    H.    E.    Hopkins, 

161-166. 
treatment  of,  if  mother  dies,  151. 
weaning,  152. 
Colts,    Fall    Versus    Spring,    Edward 
van  Alstyne,  155-160. 
advantages  of  fall,   157-159. 
plan    for   raising   two   per    year, 

160. 
profit  in  raising,  155. 


Index 


273 


Colts  —  Continued : 

spring  most  i)()pular,  156,  157. 
value  of  skim  milk  for,  160. 
Community    Effort    in    Draft    Horse 
Breeding,  J.  L.  Edmonds,  216- 
220. 
knowledge  of  correct  type,  219. 
liberal  feeding  necessary,  219. 
number    of    sires    available,    217, 

219. 
organizations,  219,  220. 
ownership  of  good  sires  possible, 
216. 
Congestion  of  lungs,  246,  247. 
Contraction,  how   relieved,   ISO. 
Corn  as  feed  for  horse,  189. 
Corns,  treatment  of,   179,  240. 
Coryza,     symptoms     and     treatment, 

242,  243. 
Crooked  feet,  treatment  of,   174. 

D 

Dentistry,  horse,   183-186. 

DeVine,  Dr.  J.  F.,  Diseases  of  Limbs 

and  Bony  Structure,  234-240. 
Digestive  apparatus,  diseases  of,  251- 

259. 
Diseases  of  horses,  225-262. 
azaturea,   259-262. 
colic,  251-259. 
distemper,  241,  242. 
glanders,  22.5-233. 
of    limbs     and    bony     structure, 

234-240. 
of  respiratory  organs,   242-250. 
Diseases   of  Limbs   and   Bony   Struc- 
ture,  Dr.   .J.   F.   DeVine,   234- 
240. 
hemorrhage,   treatment  of,   236. 
lameness,  causes  of,  234,  235. 

treatment  for,  235,  236. 
of  joints   and  muscles,   237, 
238. 
treatment  for,  237. 
lymphangitis,  240. 
trouble  with  legs  and  feet,  238. 
Diseases  of  Respiratory  Organs,  Dis- 
temper, and,  Dr.   E.  L.  Volge- 
nau,  241-250. 
hronchitis,  245,  246. 


Diseases  of  Respiratory  Organ — Con: 
congestion  of  limgs,  246,  247. 
coryza   (cold  in  head),  242. 
chronic    catarrh    or    nasal    gleet, 

243,   244. 
laryngitis   and  pharyngitis,   244, 

245. 
obstruction  of  nose,  244. 
pneumonia,  248-250. 
roaring,  245. 
Distemper,  241,  242. 
symptoms,   241. 
treatment,   242. 
Draft  Breeds,  of  France,  E.  S.  Akin, 
71-81. 
Ardennais,   72,  73. 
Boulonnais,   73. 
Breton,   72. 
Xivernais,  73. 
Percheron,    75-81. 
of    Great    Britain,    E.    S.    Akin, 
91-103. 
Clydesdale,  96-99. 
Shire,    100-103. 
Suffolk,    91-96. 
imported  in  1913-14,   103. 
Draft  colts  at  fair,  203,  204. 
Draft    Horse     Breeders'    Club,     New 

York  State,  268. 
Draft    Horse    Breeding,    Community 
Effort  in,  J.  L.  Edmonds,  216-220. 
Draft  horses  on  farms,  129-140. 

E 
East,   Horse   Breeding  in   West  and, 
F.  Henry,  221-224. 
advisability   of   raising  our   own 
horses,  223,  224. 
Edmonds,    J.    L.,    Community    Effort 
in  Draft  Horse  Breeding,  216  220. 
Effects    of    \Yisconsin    Stallion    Law, 

Dr.  A.  S.  Alexander,  213,  214. 
European  War  as  incentive  to  horse 
raising,   36,   43,   44,    134,    136-139, 
155,   156,  205,  206,  222. 
Evolution  and  History  of  the  Horse, 
M.  W.  Harper,  11-13. 
natural  causes  of  evolution,  13. 
prehistoric   development,    11,    12. 
Exercise,  need  of,    18,   19,    141,    149, 
223. 


274 


Index 


F 

Fall    Colts,    Versus    Spring,    Edward 
van  Alstyiie,    155   lliU. 
advantages  of,   157-159. 
care  of,  19. 
Fairs,   need   of    change    in    classifica- 
tion of  horses  at,  220. 
Farcy.     See  Glanders. 
Farm  horse,  129-133. 
Farmer,  Horse  for  the,  to  Breed,  J.  H. 

S.  Johnstone,  134-140. 
Farriery.     See  Shoeing. 
Feed   and   Care   of   the   Horse,   F.   C. 
Minkler,  187-192. 
care  of  teeth  and  parasites,  191. 
conditions   governing   amount   of 

feed,  187. 
grain  ration,   189,  190. 
grooming,   191. 

inadvisability  of  too  much  rough- 
age,   188. 
salt  and  water,   190. 
Feed  for,  the  brood  mare,   149. 

the  stallion,  142,  143. 
Feet,    Horses',    and    Their    Care,    Dr. 
C.  W.  Brodhead,   167-182. 
anatomical  review,   168-173. 
change  in,  11,  12. 
faults  of  conformation,  173. 
club  foot,  173,  174. 
crooked  feet,   174. 
flat  feet,   173. 
heredity  in  relation  to.  177. 
shoeing,  174,  177,  178. 
treatment     of     conditions,     179- 
182. 
Feet  of,  farm  horse,  132,  133. 

stallion,   145. 
Fillies,  breeding  young,   17,   18. 
Flat  feet,  treatment  of,  173. 
Foals,  spring,  18,  19,  156,  157. 

fall,  19,  157-159. 
Forging,   shoeing  to   prevent,   180. 
France,  Draft  Breeds  of,  E.  S.  Akin, 

71-81. 
French  Coach  horse,   112-114. 
characteristics,   113,   114. 
history,  112,  113. 


French  Coach  Horse  —  Continued: 

registration,   114. 

utility  qualities,   114. 
Frog,   paring  of,   182. 

G 
Gay,     Carl    W.,     The    Standardbred 

Horse,  20-26. 
Gelder,  J.,  Care  of  the  Stallion,  141- 

147. 
German  Coach  horse,  114-116. 
characteristics,    114-116. 
history,    114. 
types  of,   114,  115. 
Gestation,  period  of,  149. 
Glanders    or    Farcy,    Dr.    C.    Linch, 
225-233. 
animals  affected  by,  225. 
cause   of,   225. 
control,   233. 

diagnosis  or  tests,  229,  230. 
disinfection,  233. 
distribution,  232. 
how  spread,  230,  232. 
method  of  handling  cases  by  de-       | 
partment,  232.  "1 

post-mortem    examinations,    227, 

229. 
symptoms,  225-227. 
Grass,  value  of,  for  young  foal,  19. 
Great  Britain,  Draft  Breeds  of,  E.  S, 

Akin,  91-103. 
Grooming,  importance  of  proper,  191. 
Gunner  type  of  horse,   136. 

H 
Hackney  horse,   110-112. 
characteristics,    112. 
history,  110,  112. 
registration,  112. 
utility  qualities,  112. 
Hackney  Breeding  in  America,  R.  C. 
Vanderbilt,   104-109. 
crossing  with  other  breeds,   107, 

108. 
improvement  of  breed,  104. 
on  Pabst  Stock  Farm,  104-109. 
rearing  young  stock,  108,  109. 
utility    qualities,    109. 


Index 


275 


Hamilton,    Dr.    M.,    Colic    and    Aza- 
turea,   251-262. 
The   Horse  on  New   York  State 
Farms,  129-133. 
Hambletonian,  origin  of,  23,  24. 
Harper,   M.   W.,   Evolution    and   His- 
tory of  the  Horso,  11-13. 
Principles  of  Horse  Breeding,  14- 
19. 
Henry,    Forest,    Hor.se    Breeding    in 

West  and  East,  221-224. 
Heredity,   importance   of,    15,   30,   31, 
41. 
in  relation  to  feet,   177. 
Hinny  defined,  119. 
History  of  the  Horse,  Evolution  and, 

M.  W.  Haiper,  11-13. 
Hitching,  method  of,  in  training  colt, 

165,   166. 
Hollingsvvorth,  Dr.  W.  G.,  Need  of  a 

Stallion  Law,  207-212. 
Hoof,  burning  of,   181. 

composition  of,  172. 
Hopkins,    H.    E.,    Training    the    Colt, 

161-166. 
Horse,    Breeding,    in    the    West    and 
East,      F.      Henry, 
221-224. 
Principles     of,     M.     W. 
Harper    14-19. 
Companionship,  F.  S.  Peer,  263- 

267. 
for   the   Farmer  to  Breed,  Best, 
J.   H.   S.   Johnstone,    134- 
140. 
desirable  size  and  conforma- 
tion, 139,  140. 
European   demand,    136-139. 
importance    of    proper    feed- 
ing,   135. 
uniformity  of  type  and  size, 
135,  136. 
market    ofi'ered     in     New    York 

State,  194-196. 
on  New  York  State  Farms,  Dr. 
IM.  Hamilton,   129-133. 
limbs  and  feet,  132,   133. 
points  of  excellence,  131. 
Standardbred        and        road 
horses,  129,  130. 


Horse  Breeding  on  New  York  State 
Farms  —  Continued: 
unsoundness  not  a  bar,   132. 
weights  of,   130,  131. 
Horses,  at  New  York  State  Fair,  Dr. 
H.  S.  Wende,  193-206. 
Belgian,  202,  203. 
Clydesdale,  203. 
draft  colts,  203,  204. 
fair    should    encourage    pro- 
duction   of    farm    horses, 
193. 
importance    of    good    judges, 

206. 
light  harness,  197,  199. 
needed  improvement.s,  204. 
Percheron,  201,  202. 
saddle,  199,  201. 
special  class  for  state  horses, 
196,   197. 
breeds  of.     See  Breeds  of  horses. 
Coach,  Devoe  Meade,  111-119. 
Feet  and  Their  Care,  Dr.  C.  W. 

Brodhead,   167-182. 
Teeth,  Care  of.  Dr.  C.  W.  Brod- 
head, 183-186. 
value  of,  in  New  York  State,  209. 
Hot  fitting  of  shoes,  inadvisability  of, 

181,   182. 
Hunter,  The,  F.  S.  Peer,  57-66. 

adaptability   of   horses    to   hunt- 
ing, 58-60. 
back,  64. 

brains  and  intelligence,  57,  58. 
conformation,  57. 
disposition,  65,  66. 
hips,  63. 
legs,  64. 

neck  and  carriage  of  head,  60,  61. 
position  of  rider,  61-63. 
proportions,  64,  65. 
shoulders,  61-63. 
size,  65. 

suitability  of  horse  to  rider,  58, 
66. 

I 
Importations  of  draft  breeds  in  1913- 

14,  103. 
Individuality  in  breeding,  15. 
Interfering,  how  remedied,  180,  181. 
Introduction,  9,  10. 


276 


Index 


Jacks,  breeding,  121-123. 
Johnstone,  J.  H.   S.,   Best  Horse  for 
the  Farmer  to  Breed,  134-140. 


Knee-sprung  horses,  how  benefited, 
180.  ^ 

Lameness  in  horses,  causes  and  treat- 
ment, 234-236,  237,  23S. 

Laminitis,  240. 

Laryngitis,  244,  245. 

Light  harness  horses  at  State  Fair, 
197,  199. 

Linch,  Charles,  Glanders  or  Farcy, 
225-233. 

Lungs,  congestion  of,  246,  247. 

M 

Mambrinos,  origin  of,  24. 
Mare,  brood,  care  of,  148-151. 
age  to  breed,  148. 
feed  and  care,    18,   149. 
foaling,  149,  151. 
conditions    governing    conception 
of,   147. 
Market,   horse,   offered   in   New   York 

State,  194-196. 
Mating,  suggestions  as  to,   15. 
Meade,    DeVoe,    Coach    Horses,    110- 

118. 
Messenger,    importance    of,    in    horse 

history,  24,  3'2. 
Milk,   skim,   substitute   for  mother's, 
151. 
value    of,    for    young    colts, 
160. 
Minklor,    F.    C.,    Feed    and    Care    of 

the  Horse,  187-192. 
Molasses  as  a  feed,  189,  190. 
Monday  morning,  disease.  259-262. 
cause,  259,  260. 
prevention,  261, 

262. 
symptons,  260. 
treatment,  260,  261. 
Minday  morning  leg,  240. 
Morgans,  history  of,  24,  25. 
Motors,  influence  of,  on  horse  indus- 
try, 25,  42. 


Mule,  breeding  of,   125,   126. 

castration  of,  126,  128. 

defined,   119. 

disposition,  125. 

early  history  of,   121. 

longevity  of,  123. 

reaching   and  trimming,   128. 

shoeing,   128. 

value  of,  for  labor,  124,  125. 
Mules,  Asses   and,  Dr.   C.  W.   Brod- 
head,   119-128. 

N 
Nasal  gleet,  243,  244. 
Need  of  a  Stallion   Law,  Dr.   W.   G. 

Hollingworth,  207-212. 
New  Jer.sey  stallion  law,  209,  212. 
New  York  State,  Draft  Horse  Breed- 
ers' Club,  268. 
Fair,  Horses  at  the,  Dr.  H. 

S.  Wende,  193-206. 
Farms,  The  Horse  on.  Dr.  M. 
Hamilton,  129-133. 
Nick,  what  constitute  a  fortunate,  15. 
Nivornais  horses,   73. 
Nose,  obstruction  in,  244. 

O 

Oats  as  feed,  189. 

Obstruction  in  nose,  244. 

Oil  meal  in  feed,  189. 

Ophthalmic    test    for    glanders,    229, 

230. 
Overreaching,  shoeing  to  prevent,  180. 


Pabst  Stock  Farm,  Hackney  breeding 

on,  104-109. 
Parasites,  internal,  treatment  for,  191. 
Pedigree,  importance  of,  in  breeding, 

15. 
Peer,    F.    S.,    Horse    Companionship, 
26.3-267. 
The  Hunter,  57-66. 
Percheron  horses,  75-81. 
at  State  Fair,  201,  202. 
breeding  of,  in  America,  81. 
characteristics  of,  79. 
early  importations,   78,   79. 
exhibitions,  76. 


Index 


277 


Perclieron  horses  —  Continued: 
government  control,  75. 
origin  of,  75. 
Period  of  gestation,  149. 
Pharyngitis,  244,  245. 
Pneumonia,  24S-250. 
symptoms,  248. 
treatment,  249,  250. 
Pony,  The  Shetland,  Miss  J   :M.  Wade, 
67. 
The  Welsh,  Miss  J.  M.  Wade,  68, 
69. 
Prepotency,  factors  influencing,  16. 

of  Ai-ab  horse,  41. 
Principles  of  Horse  Breeding,  M.  W. 

Harper,   14-19. 
Puncture  wounds,  treatment  of,   180, 
240. 

Q 
Quarter  cracks  of  foot,  treatment  of, 
179. 

R 
Railey,    Mrs.    E.    C,    The    American 

Saddle  Horse,  47-56. 
Respiratory  organs,  diseases  of,  241- 

250. 
Reversion  in  breeding,  15. 
Ringbones,  238,  239. 
Roaring,  cause  and  treatment,  245. 
Roudebush,  L.,   Care  of  Brood  Mare 

and  Her  Colt,  148-154. 
Roughage,    inadvisability    of    feeding 
large  amounts  of,  188. 

S 
Saddle    Horse,    American,    The,    Mrs. 
E.  C.  Railey,  47-56. 
care  of,  55,  56. 
derivation  of,  47-53. 
exhibits  at  State  Fair,  199,  201. 
notable  horses,  54,  55. 
points  of  exciellence,  54. 
utility  qualities,  55. 
Salt  for  horses,  190. 
Scrub  stallions,  elimination   of,  207, 

214. 
Service  of  stallion,  142. 
Shetland  Pony,  The,  Miss  J.  M.  Wade, 
67. 


Shetland  Pony  —  Continued : 
characteristics,   67. 
importations,  67. 
origin,  67. 
Shire  horse,  100-103. 
characteristics,    101. 
distribution,   101. 
importations    to    America,    102, 

103. 
origin,   100. 
Shiverick,  X.   C,   The  Thoroughbred, 

37-45. 
Shoe  boil,  treatment  for,  237,  238. 
Shoeing,  174-179. 

improvement  in,  175. 
introduction  of,  174,  175. 
mules,   128. 
poor,  as  cause  of  defects  in  feet, 

175,  177,  180. 
to  prevent  forging,   180. 
Sidebones,  treatment  of,  239. 
Skim  milk  for  young  colts,  value  of, 

160. 
Slanting  shoulders   in   a   hunter,  61- 

63. 
Soundness,    importance   of,    in   breed- 
ing, 17. 
Spavins,   238. 
Splints,  238. 

Spring    Colts,    Versus    Fall,    Edward 
van   Alstyne,    155-160. 
advantages  of,  19,  157. 
care  of,  19. 

popularity  of,  156,  157. 
Stallion,  Care  of  the,  J.  CJeldcr,  141- 
147. 
avoid  excess  of  fat,  143,  145. 
desirable      characteristics,      145, 

140. 
handling  of,   146. 
light  work  desirable,   141. 
scrub,  elimination  of,  207. 
stabling  and  feed,  142. 
Stallion  Law,  Enrollment,  E.  S.  Akin, 
215. 
Need  of  a.  Dr.  W.   G.  Holling- 
worth,   207-212. 
how  to  bring  about  an  effi- 
cient, 207,  208. 
in  European  countries,  209. 


278 


Index 


Stallion  Law  —  Continued: 

in  New  Jersey,  2U*J-212. 
Wisconsin,   Effects  of,  Dr.  A.   S. 
Alexander,  213,  214. 
Standardbred    Horse,    Carl    W.    Gay, 
20-26. 
characteristics,   25. 
history,  21. 
notable   centers  of   breeding,   21, 

22. 
notable  strains,  23-25. 
on  New  York  State  farms,   129, 

130. 
recognition  of,  22,  23. 
State  Fair,  New  York,  Horses  at,  Dr. 

H.  S.  Wende,  193-206. 
Statistics,  269. 
Sterility,  causes  of,  16,  17 
Structure  of  leg  and  foot,  168-173. 
Subcutanous  niallein   test   for   gland- 
ers, 230. 
Suffolk  horse,  91-96. 

breeding  encouraged  by  wealthy 

men,  93. 
characteristics,  94. 
color,  93. 
exportations,  94. 
importation  in  New  York  State, 

96. 
origin,  93. 

T 
Teeth,    Horses',    Care   of.   Dr.    C.    W. 
Brodhead,   183-186. 
change   in   formation   of,    11,    12, 

183. 
conditions   caused   by    imperfect, 

186,    191,   251. 
filing  off  of,  185. 
shedding  of  milk,  185. 
wolf  or  rudimentary,  186. 
Thoroughbred,  N.  C.  Shiverick,  37-45. 
care  of  foal,  45. 
characteristics,  37-39. 
foundation  stock,  37. 
intelligence,  41,  42. 
prepotency,  41. 
true  type,  40,  41. 
value  of,  for  army  purposes,  43. 
Toe  cracks,  treatment  for,  179. 
Training    the    Colt,    H.    E.    Hopkins, 
161-166. 


Training  the  Colt  —  Continued : 

bitting  and  making  mouth,   164, 

165. 
driving  with  lines,  103,  164. 
formation  of  habits,  161,  166. 
gentling,  163. 
hitching,  165,  160. 
methods  of,   161,   162. 
teaching  to  lead,  162. 
teaching  to  stand  tied,  162,  163. 
Trotting  breeds,  20-26. 

V 
Van    Alstyne,    Edward,    Fall    Versus 

Spring  Colts,   155-160. 
Vanderbilt,  K.  C,  Hackney  Breeding 

in  America,   104-109. 
Volgenau,  Dr.   E.  L.,  Distemper  and 
Diseases  of  the  Respiratory  Organs, 
241-250. 

W 
Wade,  :\Iiss  J.  M.,  The  Shetland  Pony, 
67. 
The  Welsh  Pony,  08,  69. 
War,  European,  as  incentive  to  horse 
raising,    36,    43,   44,    134,    136-139, 
155,  156,  205,  206,  222. 
Water,  dangers  of  ice-cold,  252,  257. 

necessity  of  sufficient,  255,  256. 
Watering  horses,  best  time  for,  190. 
Welsh  Pony,  The,  i\Iiss  J.  M.  Wade, 
68,  69. 
characteristics,   69. 
history,  68. 
in  United  States,  69. 
origin,  68. 
Wende,    Dr.    H.    S.,    Horses    at    New 

York  State  Fair,  193-206. 
West,  Horse  Breeding  in  East  and,  F. 
Henry,   221-224. 
limited  supply  of  good  horses  in, 

136,   137,  221. 
price  of  land  higlier,  223. 
Western  horses,  supply  of,  low,  136, 

137,  221. 
Wheat  bran  as  feed  for  horses,  189. 
Wilkes  strain,  origin  of,  23,  24. 
Wisconsin    Stallion    Law,    Effects    of. 
Dr.  A.  S.  Alexander,  213,  214. 
as    means     of    increasing    pure- 

breds,  214. 
benefits  of,  213. 


/ebster  Family  Library  of  Veterinary  Medicine 
ummings  School  of  Veterinary  Medicine  at 
utts  University 
00  Westboro  Road 
lorth  Grafton,  MA  01536 


